A man from Atlanta has entered a guilty plea to charges of making interstate threats to murder Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). Sean Patrick Cirillo, aged 34, faces a potential prison term of up to five years and will be sentenced on November 7.
Cirillo was accused of calling Greene‘s Washington D.C. office on November 8, 2023, where he made alarming statements to her staff. According to court documents, he stated he had “a bead on her like a sniper rifle” and threatened, “I’m gonna kill her next week.” Additionally, he said, “I’ll kill you too if you want,” and referenced “shoot[ing] her in the f****** head.”
Federal prosecutor Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia condemned Cirillo’s actions in a statement released on Tuesday. “Threatening to kill a public official is reprehensible,” Buchanan emphasized. Additionally, he reiterated the commitment of his office, alongside federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, to not tolerate any forms of violence, threats, or intimidation against public officials.
Similarly, Keri Farley, special agent in charge at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Atlanta office, underscored that violent threats, whether directed at elected officials or civilians, would not be normalized in America. She stated, “Our democracy depends on the ability of members of Congress to do their jobs without fearing for their safety.”
Cirillo reportedly admitted to making the calls during an FBI visit to his home the day after the threats were made. Subsequently, he revealed that he intended to “get attention,” as per the criminal complaint.
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