Michael Paul Lewis, 52, of Minneapolis, has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly threatening to murder a United States Congressperson, Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick announced today.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on March 26, 2025, when Lewis allegedly called the office of a U.S. Representative and left a voicemail containing a threat to murder her. The name of the Congressperson was not released.
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“Federal law protects our elected officials from this sort of violent, unhinged, and murderous rhetoric,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Kirkpatrick in a press release. “It is entirely unacceptable. Defendants who attempt to terrorize public officials in this way will face the full weight of federal justice. I am grateful for the diligent and swift work of the FBI to hold this defendant to account.”
“Threatening to kill a member of Congress is not protected speech. It is a federal crime that will be met with immediate and decisive action,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis. “No one should be subject to violence for fulfilling their elected duty to represent the American people. The FBI and our partners will investigate such threats thoroughly and hold accountable anyone who threatens the safety of our elected leaders.”
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Lewis is facing two federal charges: one count of threatening to murder a United States official and one count of interstate transmission of a threat to injure another person.
He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court earlier today and will remain in detention pending his arraignment and detention hearing scheduled for April 23, 2025, before Magistrate Judge Dulce J. Foster.
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