Grand jury will get case of man threatening to kill senators

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A magistrate has ruled that determination is probable origin for a lawsuit to proceed against a antheral accused of threatening to termination Alaska’s 2 U.S. senators successful profanity-filled voicemails near connected their bureau phones.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott A. Oravec connected Tuesday ordered the lawsuit against Jay Allen Johnson beryllium sent to the adjacent disposable expansive assemblage for consideration. Given the fluidity of the COVID-19 concern successful Alaska — Tuesday’s preliminary proceeding was held remotely — it was not known erstwhile that expansive assemblage would beryllium empaneled.

Johnson, 65, faces counts of threatening to execution a U.S. official, threatening interstate communications, being a felon successful possession of weapons and threatening to destruct spot by fire.

He is accused of making threats against U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and of threatening to pain down properties owned by Murkowski successful a bid of messages near implicit the span of months.

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Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Tansey called 1 witnesser during the preliminary hearing, FBI Special Agent Matthew Patrick Allen Oudbier, who investigated the voicemails near astatine the senators' offices successful Washington, D.C. He said helium received copies of the dependable messages from some offices and from Capitol constabulary and traced them backmost to Johnson. In immoderate messages, Oudbier said, the caller identified himself arsenic Jay Johnson and near his Alaska telephone number.

During the hearing, Tansey played conscionable 1 voicemail near for Murkowski, which helium said was capable to found probable cause.

In it, the caller is upset implicit radical who participate the state illegally and tells Murkowski, “You’re beingness is worthy $5,000. That’s each it’s worth.” He vows to prosecute the “terrorists, assassins” that the caller says she has fto in. “I’m going to usage them to travel and assassinate your (expletives).”

He besides tells her not to tally for re-election successful 2022 “because you’re not doing what Alaskans want.”

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“If you successful immoderate mode enactment this Biden communist, bought-off Chinese administration, I volition beryllium hiring the (expletive) that each of you person fto successful this country,” helium said.

In different voicemail that was played astatine Johnson’s archetypal quality connected Oct. 8, Johnson is alleged to person said helium would usage his skills arsenic a seasoned to transportation retired his threats.

When asked, Oudbier said helium could find nary grounds that Johnson was a veteran. Representatives of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines besides told The Associated Press they could find nary grounds of him successful their systems.

The authorities is seeking to prehend 7 weapons — 3 pistols, 2 revolvers, a firearm and a shotgun — recovered aft they searched Johnson’s location successful the tiny assemblage of Delta Junction. Court documents said helium is simply a felon due to the fact that of respective driving-under-the-influence charges.

Johnson’s wife, Catherine Pousson-Johnson, said astatine the Oct. 8 detention proceeding that her hubby was successful symptom aft caller surgeries connected his spine, genu and shoulder.

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“My hubby is an aged man, and helium gets precise aggravated listening to authorities connected the news,” she said.

Against his nationalist defender’s wishes, Johnson besides spoke astatine the earlier hearing: “I’m a elder national and I americium highly disabled and I volition not beryllium carrying retired immoderate of these threats.”

“I conscionable apologize to everybody,” helium said aboriginal successful the hearing.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Johnson astatine 1 clip said: “I’m requesting a apology connection if I could.” At that point, his national nationalist defender, Gary Colbath, asked him to hold connected this, per their earlier discussions.

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Associated Press newsman Lolita Baldor successful Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

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