California man accused of making threats against congressman’s family and journalist

A California man was arrested Tuesday after federal authorities said he sent threatening text messages to the family members of a New York congressman and reporter.

Prosecutors allege that Robert Lemke, 35, of Bay Point, Calif., Texted a family member of an unidentified reporter on Jan. 6, saying that “this person’s words put you in danger, you and your family, ”according to a federal criminal complaint outside New York.

“We are nearby armed and ready,” said the suspect in a text described in the document. “Thousands of us are active / retired law enforcement, military, etc. This is how we do it.”

Also on January 6, prosecutors said Lemke texted the brother of an unidentified congressman and included a photo of a house in the brother’s neighborhood.

“Your brother is putting your whole family at risk with his lies and other words. We are armed and close to your house, “he would have said in the text.” You better talk to him. We are not far from his either. Already spoken to [Congressman-1’s son] and know where his children are.

The suspect believed in the misinformation that President Joe Biden failed to win the November election, authorities said.

In the text addressed to the lawmaker’s brother, the authorities said Lemke wrote: “Your words have consequences. Stop telling lies; Biden didn’t win, he won’t be president. “

He went on to say that he and others who opposed Biden’s victory are not white supremacists and asserted that “most of us are law enforcement or active / retired military. “.

Lemke reportedly warned, “Don’t risk their safety with your words and lies.”

Lemke was arrested around 6 a.m. PT, and is expected to make his first appearance in a federal courtroom in San Francisco, about 35 miles southwest of his home on Wednesday, officials said. .

Lemke’s family members could not be reached for comment on several public phone numbers for them in northern California on Tuesday afternoon. The Federal Public Defender’s Office was not immediately selected to defend hm, said a supervisor from the agency’s San Francisco office.

Lemke was apparently active on Facebook to express his support for Trump and other causes. Lemke’s Facebook account included a background image of Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple who pointed their gun at Black Lives Matter protesters outside their home this summer, authorities said.

Shortly after the election, authorities said Lemke wrote on Facebook: “People. Be ready for war. Rum refused to give in. Evidence shows fraud has taken place and the business of the Supreme Court will be successful. “

Also on his social media, Lemke said he was a retired Air Force captain and Alameda County Sheriff’s Sergeant, according to the criminal complaint.

However, the Air Force had no record of a Robert Lemke matching his description who served, the Pentagon said Tuesday afternoon.

The FBI contacted the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office earlier this month about Lemke and agents were told that no one by the name had ever been employed by the department, Sgt. Ray Kelly told NBC News.

“This man has never worked here,” Kelly said. “I spoke to the FBI weeks ago. He made it up. It’s like I’m saying, ‘I worked at NBC with Tom Brokaw.'”

For weeks after the election, Trump continually said baselessly that he was deceived into winning the November election.

The former president’s disinformation campaign culminated in a deadly riot on Jan.6 when his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol and delayed Congress’s formal acceptance of the Electoral College vote that handed the White House over to Biden. Five people died from the violence.

Mosheh gains contributed.