NJ Man Admits Threatening To Kill Political Commentator

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — A Morris County man has confessed to making online death threats against a prominent political commentator, federal officials say.

Haim Braverman, 45, of Morris Plains, admitted in a social media video to “threatening a death sentence against” the commentator, according to the Justice Department. The individual was not identified in court documents.

Federal officials said Braverman made the threats on Sept. 10, after the commentator spoke about a prominent, now-deceased rabbi whom Braverman admired and was angered by.

In the video, he threatened to use a bat he was holding, stating: "you’ll get what’s coming to you . . . , I’ve never met someone . . . if I could f**king kill you right now, I would not even . . . , f**k it I’ll give you the steel bat. I wouldn’t even stop. I’d kill you. Dead. . . . I’m threatening a death sentence against [the commentator].”

Braverman also wrote in a comment accompanying the video, “[The commentator] needs to be killed.” In addition, he sent an audio message to a group chat on a messaging app, referencing the commentator and saying: “after I heard what . . . [the commentator] said, I will go to prison, gladly find her and kill her . . . I will find a f**king weapon and f**king kill her. I am outraged.”

Braverman was formally charged with one count of transmitting interstate threats and now faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark.

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 15, according to officials.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek from the National Security Unit in Newark.