Former Florida Congressional Candidate Charged with Threatening to Kill Political Rival

A former Florida congressional candidate, William Robert Braddock III, has been charged by the Department of Justice for allegedly threatening to kill his political rival, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, during the 2022 Republican primary for Florida's 13th Congressional District.

Allegations and Indictment

According to the indictment, Braddock, a 41-year-old from St. Petersburg, Florida, threatened to 'call up my Russian-Ukrainian hit squad' to make his primary opponent disappear. The alleged threats were made during a phone call on June 8, 2021, and were directed at Luna, identified as Victim 1, and another individual, Victim 2, who is described as a private citizen and acquaintance of Luna.

The threats led to a temporary restraining order being issued against Braddock in 2021 to protect Luna and her friend, conservative activist Erin Olszewski. Braddock subsequently dropped out of the race and left the United States, later being found living in the Philippines.

Investigation and Arrest

Braddock was recently deported from the Philippines and made his initial court appearance in Los Angeles on September 27. The investigation was conducted by the FBI's Tampa field office and the St. Petersburg Police Department as part of the Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force.

The charges against Braddock include one count of interstate transmission of a true threat to injure another person, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison if he is found guilty.

Background and Reactions

Luna, who won the 2022 election and is now running for reelection, had previously accused Braddock of stalking and threatening to kill her. She and Olszewski had reported the threats to the authorities, leading to the temporary restraining order. Luna has also recently reported receiving other serious threats, including a shooting threat and being doxxed.

Luna's office highlighted the disproportionate targeting of female members of Congress with stalking, violence, and harassment, emphasizing the need to address this broader issue of violence in the political arena.