Michigan Capitol Bomb Threat Suspect Charged With 2 Felonies

LANSING, MI — A 48-year-old Eaton County man faces a false report of terrorism charges for calling in a bomb threat at the Michigan Capitol Thursday morning and also threatening a state lawmaker, the Michigan Attorney General's office announced Friday.

Michael Varrone, of Charlotte, was arrested outside his home Thursday and arraigned Friday before 54-A District Court Magistrate Laura Millmore on two counts of false report or threat of terrorism — a 20-year felony, prosecutors said. He also was charged with one count of false report or threat of bomb/harmful device, a 4-year felony, prosecutors said.

The AG's office said Varrone's charge of false report or threat of terrorism is related to a phone call he'd made in December in which he threatened the life of Democratic state Rep. Cynthia Johnson, while the other two charges stem from Thursday’s reported bomb threat.

Read More: Man Arrested After Bomb Threat At Michigan Capitol Thursday: AG

“Threats to our democracy must not be tolerated, and my office will work tirelessly to ensure the people who work and visit our Capitol can do so safely,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Friday. “I am grateful this incident did not result in any serious injury or harm. However, I hope this incident and the disgraceful tragedy that occurred Wednesday at our nation’s Capitol in Washington, D.C., can serve as reminders of the security measures we must work to maintain and improve to protect the sanctity of our democracy and the safety of our people.”

Varrone was given a $50,000 bail, prosecutors said. He is scheduled for a probable cause conference at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 22 and a preliminary examination for 8:30 a.m. Jan. 28 before Judge Kirsten Simmons.

According to Nessel's office, Varrone on Dec. 12 called the Michigan House of Representatives six times and on at least one occasion threatened the life of Johnson and her family members, according to state charging documents.

"If there is one more threat by a democratic person in Michigan that's supposed to represent me, I will personally come down there and take over that g****** building at the Capitol," Varrone said in a Dec. 12 phone call, state charging documents show.

Around 6:45 a.m. Thursday, Varrone telephoned a control operator at the Capitol complex and said "everyone better get out of the building because it'll f****** explode" before hanging up, according to documents.

Michigan State Police swept the premises and the building was reopened by 9 a.m.