A Virginia man has been charged with making violent threats on social media against Kamala Harris shortly after she began her campaign for president.
Frank Carillo was charged on Friday over threatening messages posted on GETTR, a conservative microblogging website.
He allegedly wrote that Ms Harris was “going to regret ever trying to become president”, according to court documents.
Another post readed that “Kamala Harris needs to be put on fire alive I will do it personally if no one else does”.
Investigators allege that Mr Carillo did “knowingly and willfully make a threat to take the life of and to inflict bodily harm” against Ms Harris.
The federal complaint includes several other posts allegedly written by Mr Carillo that make use of extremely violent language and threats.
Making a threat against the president, vice-president or others in the line of presidential succession carries a prison sentence of up to five years.
The messages included in the court documents were dated 27 July – less than a week after Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Ms Harris.
Messages also target Mr Biden and Christopher Wray, the director of the FBI.
Mr Carillo was arrested on 2 August. FBI agents seized an AR15-style rifle and a handgun in a search of his home, court records show.
“This is ridiculous, for a comment,” Mr Carillo said during the search, according to the documents. “I guess I’m gonna need a lawyer.”
He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
The investigation into Mr Carillo’s online presence began after the recorder’s office in Maricopa County, Arizona, notified the FBI of potential threats against Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer.
Mr Richer’s office oversees voting records and elections in Maricopa County – a voter-rich area key to winning the state of Arizona.
GETTR and Google help the FBI in its investigation.
Republicans and Democrats have condemned the growing trend of political violence, especially after last month’s assassination attempt on Donald Trump, who was injured in the attack.
GETTR was originally founded by Jason Miller, Trump’s chief spokesperson. He left when he joined the 2024 Trump presidential campaign last year.
Kamala Harris
