A former Republican candidate for Congress in Florida, William Robert Braddock III, has been charged by the Department of Justice for allegedly threatening to kill his political opponent, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, during the 2022 primary election.
Allegations and Threats
According to the indictment, Braddock, a 41-year-old from St. Petersburg, Florida, claimed in a recorded call that he would 'call up my Russian-Ukrainian hit squad' to kill Luna. He also made threats against another individual, identified as a private citizen and acquaintance of Luna. Braddock allegedly stated, 'I really don't want to have to end anybody's life for the good of the people of the United States of America,' and described Luna as 'a fucking speed bump in the road. She's a dead squirrel you run over every day when you leave the neighborhood.'
Luna, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump and ultimately won the congressional seat, had previously accused Braddock of stalking and threatening to kill her. In 2021, she testified in court that Braddock made repeated violent threats, including claims about a Russian-Ukrainian hit squad. A temporary restraining order was issued to protect Luna and her friend, conservative activist Erin Olszewski.
Investigation and Extradition
After making the alleged threats, Braddock left the United States and was later found living in the Philippines. He was extradited back to the U.S. and made his initial court appearance on September 26 in a Los Angeles federal court.
The investigation into Braddock is a joint effort by the FBI's Tampa field office and the St. Petersburg Police Department, as part of the Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force established in 2021.
Legal Consequences
Braddock faces a charge of interstate transmission of a true threat to injure another person, which could result in a maximum prison sentence of five years if he is found guilty.
Luna is currently running for reelection in her district and has recently highlighted other security concerns, including a 'very serious shooting threat' and incidents of doxxing and threatening packages at her home.
