'Words have meaning': Man accused of threatening to kill Cleaver will remain detained

A federal judge found Monday that there’s adequate reason to detain a southwest Missouri man accused of threatening to assault and kill Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.

“Mr. Hubert, words have meaning,” Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush told Kenneth R. Hubert during a detention hearing at the federal courthouse in Springfield. “And your words rise to the level of posing a danger.”

Hubert, 63, of Marionville, was charged with threatening to harm Cleaver, a Democrat who represents Kansas City, on Jan. 7 with the “intent to impede, intimidate and interfere” with his official duties, the Justice Department announced last week.

On Monday, Hubert pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors allege Hubert left a voicemail Jan. 7 at Cleaver’s Independence office, in which he used a racial slur and said, “How about a noose ... around his neck?” He has made similar threats before, including one in 2019 aimed at Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee, the FBI said.

Read more: https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article249779728.html