Prosecutors have charged former congressional candidate William Braddock with threatening to make Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) “disappear” during an election contest. Braddock, 41, from St. Petersburg, Florida, allegedly made the threats on June 8, 2021, while challenging Rep. Luna for the 13th Congressional District of Florida. The indictment, unsealed late last week, says Braddock threatened to use a “Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” to eliminate her.
Prosecutors did not officially name Braddock’s alleged victim, but he was running against Luna at the time. Leaked audio recordings appear to show him referring to Luna as a “dead squirrel” and “a f***ing speed bump in the road” who would be made to “disappear.” Braddock initially denied the recordings’ authenticity, suggesting they had been altered. However, a judge issued a stalking injunction against him, and he withdrew from the race against Luna shortly afterward.
Braddock fled to the Philippines following these incidents but has now been extradited back to the United States. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is charging him with interstate transmission of a true threat to injure another person. Braddock appeared in a Los Angeles federal court on Thursday and faces up to five years in prison if convicted.
Recently, Luna revealed she has received another “very serious shooting threat,” which law enforcement is currently investigating.
In newly released secret recording, Florida Republican running for Congress, William Braddock, threatens to send “Russian and Ukrainian hit squad” after Republican primary opponent @realannapaulina to make her “disappear” pic.twitter.com/a5Yr8usyPx
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) June 17, 2021
