Man Arrested For Threatening To Kill Senator Chuck Schumer, Congressman Adam Schiff

A Greece, New York man was arrested this past Wednesday for threatening the life of New York Senator Chuck Schumer and California Representative Adam Schiff.

ABC News reports that 57-year-old Salvatore Lippa was charged with was charged with threatening to assault and murder a federal official on account of the performance of their official duties.

The charges were filed after Schiff’s DC office after the congressmen, who was instrumental in the recent impeachment of President Trump, received a voicemail which contained a death threat. The message started with Lippa referring to Schiff as “Shifty Schiff”, a moniker commonly invoked by President Trump to denigrate and discredit his political adversary.

Two weeks later, on Feb. 4, Schumer’s office received a similar message threatening his life. Lippa also mentioned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi when making the menacing phone calls. When questioned by authorities, Lippa copped to making the threats because he was reportedly frustrated with the politicians over their roles in the impeachment proceedings, according to federal prosecutors.

Lippa faces up to ten years in prison for his crimes. Threatening government officials of the United States is a felony under federal law. Threatening the President of the United States is a felony under 18 U.S.C. § 871, punishable by up to 5 years of imprisonment, that is investigated by the United States Secret Service.

Lippa is due in federal court Wednesday afternoon to answer for his crimes. The incident is the latest indicator of the dangerous hyper-partisan environment that’s befallen the country in the wake of the current political climate. Many fear that these divides are only going to get deeper as the 2020 election draws closer and closer. It was not immediately clear whether or not Lippa was represented by counsel or whether he’ll be without bail on the charges.