A Duluth man was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia on June 10 for allegedly threatening two U.S. Senators and their families.
U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said Robert Davis Forney, 25, was arraigned on Monday before a United States Magistrate Judge on federal charges of communicating threats in interstate commerce.
According to the charges and information presented in court, Forney called the office of Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz twice on Jan. 9 and left voicemails in which he allegedly threatened sexual violence against Senator Cruz and his family.
The next day, Forney allegedly called the office of Nebraska U.S. Senator Deb Fischer and left a voicemail in which he threatened sexual violence against Senator Fischer.
“Threatening our elected officials and their families is an act of violence that undermines our entire democracy,” Hertzberg said. “Political discourse and disagreements never justify resorting to vile attacks against our nation’s leaders.”
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Capitol Police.
“Targeting public officials with threatening messages is a serious federal crime,” FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown said. “There is no place for political violence or threats of violence in the United States. We will not hesitate to arrest and charge others who engage in similar criminal conduct.”
The case is a part of the nationwide initiative Operation Take Back America.
“The men and women of the United States Capitol Police work around the clock to investigate thousands of threat cases every year – a number that only seems to be growing,” Acting U.S. Capitol Chief Sean Gallagher said. “Our Department’s mission to protect the Members of Congress is critical and we will not tolerate any threat to their safety.”
Forney is innocent until proven guilty.
