A Towns County man who took part in Wednesday's assault on the U.S. Capitol now faces federal charges amid allegations that he threatened the life of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The U.S. Department of Justice says Cleveland Grover Meredith is among a growing number of individuals facing federal charges in the riot, and CNN reports that the Hiawassee man also faces weapons charges in the case.
According to a report by the AJC, investigators say that prior to this week's events Meredith sent a text message where he threatened to put “a bullet in [Pelosi’s] noggin on Live TV,” and another that said he was heading to Washington, D.C., with armor-piercing bullets in tow.
Following the riot, CNN says a search of Meredith's truck and trailer revealed an assault rifle, handguns and "hundreds of rounds of ammunition." The vehicle was reported to be in the parking lot of a Washington hotel.
Hiawassee Police Chief Paul Smith told the AJC that Meredith was known to local law enforcement and that he had recently moved from the city to nearby Hayesville, North Carolina.
