MIAMI — A 72-year-old man from Greenacres was arrested Wednesday morning on a criminal complaint charging him with threatening to kill a U.S. House member and the representative's children.
Michael Shapiro left five voicemail messages for a U.S. House member at the congressional office in Washington on Dec. 19, according to the complaint.
The House member was not identified in the complaint, but Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., confirmed the threats were targeted at himself and his children.
"There is no place in America for threats of political violence," Swalwell said in a statement Wednesday night obtained by NBC News. "We must always resolve our differences at the ballot box. While I will continue to protect my family and staff these continued threats will never stop me from representing my constituents."
In one of the messages, Shapiro stated that he was going to "come after you and kill you …" In another message, he stated that he was going to "come and kill your children …"
Shapiro allegedly placed the threatening calls from his home in Greenacres.
In 2019, Shapiro pleaded guilty in federal court for making threatening communications to another victim.
Shapiro made his initial appearance in Miami before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce E. Reinhart for the Southern District of Florida.
His next hearing was scheduled for 10 a.m. on Jan. 24 in West Palm Beach.
