Illinois man charged with making death threats to House Democrats, Christie

An Illinois man left invective-filled voicemails for four U.S. House members last year that included death threats to Democrats and former Gov. Chris Christie, federal prosecutors allege.

Louis Capriotti, 45, of Chicago Heights, warned that he and others would surround the White House the day of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, called Democrats "gun grabbing ... terrorists" and told one House member to "choke in hell," prosecutors said. Capriotti was arrested near his home Tuesday morning and charged with transmitting a threat, prosecutors said.

In his voicemail to a New Jersey representative, prosecutors allege Capriotti said he wanted to "put one right in" Christie's "dome." Christie, a formerly staunch supporter of Donald Trump who has since criticized the president for not conceding his loss to Biden, is not mentioned by name in the charging document released Tuesday, but the former governor confirmed he was the target of the threat.

"Law enforcement kept me and my family appropriately aware of the threat and we are relieved that Mr. Capriotti is now in custody," Christie said in a statement.

Read more: https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2021/01/12/illinois-man-charged-threatening-house-democrats-ex-nj-governor/6645249002/