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4 years agoon
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Ron RichterActing United States Attorney for Wyoming Bob Murray announced the unsealing of an indictment charging 51-year-old Christopher Kent Podlesnik of Laramie with seven counts of transmitting threats in interstate commerce. In the indictment, a federal grand jury charged Podlesnik with leaving voicemail messages threatening various elected officials on January 28, including members of Congress. FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider said the FBI remains committed to protecting the civil liberties of all Americans to include First Amendment protected speech, but remains equally committed to investigating violations of federal law when speech threatens violence and physical harm to others.
According to a news release from the Department of Justice, Podlesnik made his initial appearance by video-teleconference before the Honorable Mark L. Carman, a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Wyoming. Podlesnik will appear Tuesday at an arraignment hearing where a jury trial is expected to be scheduled. Each count of transmitting threats in interstate commerce is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.