Congresswoman Receives Death Threat In Voicemail, Minneapolis Man Charged

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A Minneapolis man has been indicted for threatening to murder an unnamed United States congresswoman.

The FBI did not identity the congresswoman.

Michael Paul Lewis, 52, is charged with one count of threatening to murder a U.S. official and one count of interstate transmission of a threat to injure another person.

He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on April 18 and will remain detained until his arraignment and detention hearing on April 23 before Magistrate Judge Dulce J. Foster.

According to court documents, on March 26, Lewis called the office of a U.S. congresswoman and left a voicemail in which he threatened to murder her.

"Federal law protects our elected officials from this sort of violent, unhinged, and murderous rhetoric," said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

"It is entirely unacceptable. Defendants who attempt to terrorize public officials in this way will face the full weight of federal justice. I am grateful for the diligent and swift work of the FBI to hold this defendant to account."

"Threatening to kill a member of Congress is not protected speech. It is a federal crime that will be met with immediate and decisive action," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis Office.

"No one should be subject to violence for fulfilling their elected duty to represent the American people. The FBI and our partners will investigate such threats thoroughly and hold accountable anyone who threatens the safety of our elected leaders."

This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Capitol Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys LeeAnn Bell and Andrew Winter are prosecuting the case.

Authorities noted that an indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.