DETROIT (AP) — A Michigan lawmaker who is Jewish said Friday that she and two other lawmakers had been approached by the FBI about an armed man accused of making death threats on Twitter against Jewish state officials.
The FBI has not publicly identified the officials. But State Representative Samantha Steckloff, a Democrat from suburban Detroit, said she was contacted when officers arrested Jack Carpenter III last week.
“They just said there were credible threats against myself and the other Jewish lawmakers and they were getting ready to arrest,” Carpenter, Steckloff told The Associated Press.
Carpenter, who remains in custody, was due to appear in federal court on Friday for a hearing. Prosecutors want to keep him locked up while his case is pending.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel identified herself as a target on Thursday.
You get threats all the time. … It probably didn’t really hit me like it should because I’ve been dealing with extremism and antisemitism since October and November,” Steckloff said.
She said threats took off last year when Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, made anti-Semitic comments in interviews and on social media. He has expressed some regret.
The FBI said Carpenter of Tipton, Michigan, was in Texas when he tweeted on Feb. 17 that he was returning to “execute the death penalty on anyone “Jewish in the Michigan government” if they don’t leave, or confess, and now problems like that.”
Carpenter also declared a new land — “New Israel” — around his home, according to the indictment.
Investigators said he had firearms and ammunition in his vehicle.
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