Man Arrested For Threatening To Murder Congressman Bob Goodlatte

On Friday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Virginia announced the arrest of a Roanoke man accused of threatening to murder Republican Congressman Bob Goodlatte (VA) over social media.

The USAO charged 38-year-old Christopher Michael McGowan with "one count of making a threatening communication through interstate commerce," according to a statement from the Department of Justice.

“Federal law criminalizes threatening communications made through the internet or a telephone, and these types of threats are not protected by the First Amendment,” U.S. Attorney Cullen said in the statement. “As this case indicates, our office will act swiftly to address threats of gun violence.”

According to the DOJ release, McGowan tweeted: “I’m serious, @BobGoodlatte6 …you keep f**king with our constitution and challenging Mueller and the last you see will be my patriot ass behind a gun you should have long ago have prevented me owning pulling a trigger to your head (SIC). Want me arrested>? GO head.”