A New Hampshire man who allegedly threatened to kill Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was also charged with making alleged death threats to two other GOP presidential candidates.
Tyler Anderson, 30, of Dover, was charged with three counts of transmitting threats after he allegedly texted Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and another unnamed presidential candidate with threatening messages during November and December, according to a statement from the Department of Justice (DOJ). He was arrested on Dec. 9, made an appearance in court on Dec. 11 and was released on Dec. 14.
“We have seen an increase in threats of violence against public officials and those seeking public office across the country, and I have made clear that these types of illegal threats undermine the function of our democracy,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in the statement. “We will not tolerate illegal threats of violence directed at public officials or those seeking public office.”
A man who was charged with threatening to kill Vivek Ramaswamy has been indicted by a federal grand jury with additional counts for threatening the lives of Chris Christie and another unnamed presidential candidate, an indictment filed on Wednesday said. https://t.co/TV6OGmJvYL
— The New York Times (@nytimes) December 22, 2023
Beginning in November, Anderson began to send threatening text messages to presidential candidates. In a message on Nov. 22, he allegedly threatened to “impale” and “disembowel” one presidential candidate.
Days later, on Dec. 6, Anderson allegedly sent another candidate several threatening texts, including one that allegedly said he would “blow” the candidate’s “head off” and carry out a “mass shooting,” according to the DOJ’s statement.
On Dec. 8, Anderson sent a third candidate a threatening text allegedly saying he would “blow” the candidate’s “brains out” and “kill everyone” who came to an upcoming campaign event for the candidate.
Karl Rickett, a spokesman for Christie’s campaign, confirmed to The New York Times that Christie had been the second candidate to receive a threatening message from Anderson. Subsequently, texts sent to Christie from Anderson were found on his phone, according to an FBI affidavit.
After Ramaswamy received threatening messages from Anderson, federal agents reportedly tracked the messages to Anderson’s phone and home, where they discovered messages sent to Christie and Ramaswamy on the suspect’s phone, according to an FBI affidavit. Anderson’s phone and firearms in the house were seized during this time.
When questioned, Anderson allegedly acknowledged sending threatening text messages to several Republican candidates, including Ramaswamy, according to the FBI affidavit.
Anderson reportedly faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 for each charge against him, according to the DOJ’s statement.
