During his arraignment on Wednesday, a man from Michigan pleaded not guilty to making threatening interstate communications after allegedly threatening to kill state Attorney General Dana Nessel and other Jewish members of Michigan's government on social media.
Jack Eugene Carpenter III was indicted by a federal grand jury last week, who also found a hate crime motivation. The indictment stated that Carpenter deliberately targeted Jewish members of the Michigan government due to their actual or perceived religion. If convicted, Carpenter could face up to five years in prison, and a hate crime motivation penalty enhancement.
US Attorney Dawn Ison stated that hate and bias-related crimes poison communities and create fear based on one's identity or beliefs, and that they will not be tolerated. Carpenter appeared in person before a judge in the Eastern District of Michigan and is currently in custody. CNN has reached out to Carpenter's attorney for comment.
CNN reported that on February 18th, the FBI National Threat Operations Center informed the Detroit FBI office of a Twitter user with the handle "tempered_reason" who threatened to carry out the punishment of death to any Jewish individuals in the Michigan government.
The user warned that any attempt to stop him would result in deadly force in self-defense. Authorities traced the account to Carpenter, who had a protection order against him and had previously been arrested by state police.
Carpenter possessed three 9mm handguns, one of which he had stolen from his girlfriend. He was arrested on February 18th in Texas and confessed to investigators that he intended to target specific officials, including Nessel.
Although court documents did not mention Nessel or other officials by name, the Democratic attorney general confirmed in a tweet that she was among the targets.
