Deputies: Man said he's 'ready to kill' if Kavanaugh not confirmed to Supreme Court
Authorities say a Florida man threatened to shoot senators who don’t support Judge Brett Kavanaugh for the U.S. Supreme Court.
A Polk County Sheriff’s Office news release says 53-year-old James Royal Patrick Jr. was arrested Wednesday and charged with making written threats to kill or injure.
Investigators say they received an email tip Wednesday morning about threatening posts Patrick made on this Facebook page last month. Besides threatening Democrats and “weak Republicans” who might oppose Kavanaugh, Patrick also encouraged conservatives to break into liberals’ homes and kill them in their sleep.
“I can tell it seems I will be sacrificing my life for my country,” Patrick wrote, according to the .” But I am ready and will know who needs to be killed after the vote to put Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court.”
In another post, deputies say Patrick wrote, “I expect to be confronted and I will be ready to kill and ready to die.”
Patrick also reportedly claimed to have weapons and ammunition.
Deputies say they found a rifle and handgun during a search of Patrick’s Winter Haven home. Investigators say Patrick admitted to making the Facebook posts but denied plans to carry out the threats. He said he wanted to annoy liberals by making "crazy statements."
Patrick was being held on $500,000 bail.