A 45-year-old Chicago Heights man is accused of threatening violence at the upcoming presidential inauguration in Washington.
Louis Capriotti is charged with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, according to Chicago-based federal prosecutors.
Capriotti was arrested near his home Tuesday morning and was scheduled to make an initial court appearance later today at the Chicago federal courthouse.
In a Dec. 29 voicemail for a U.S. House member from New Jersey, Capriotti allegedly stated that if certain individuals “think that Joe Biden is going to put his hand on the Bible and walk into that [expletive] White House on January 20th, they’re sadly [expletive] mistaken.”
Capriotti allegedly added, “We will surround the [expletive] White House and we will kill any [expletive] Democrat that steps on the [expletive] lawn.”
According to the complaint filed by prosecutors, Capriotti has a history of leaving profane voicemails for members of Congress.
“Our office takes the security of our public servants very seriously,” U.S. Attorney John Lausch said in a news release. “Individuals who cross the line of free speech by making unlawful threats will be held accountable.”
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