West Palm Beach, Fla. - A South Florida man has been apprehended after allegedly making death threats against U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell and his children. According to federal prosecutors, Michael Shapiro, a 72-year-old resident of Greenacres, Fla., was taken into custody on a charge of transmitting a threatening communication.
Shapiro made his initial appearance in West Palm Beach federal court, where a bond of $250,000 was set, as revealed by court records. The incident, which occurred last month, involved Shapiro leaving a series of voicemail messages at Swalwell's Washington office on December 19. Although the criminal complaint does not explicitly name Swalwell as the intended recipient, the congressman himself confirmed this fact via a social media post on Wednesday.
Swalwell asserted his resilience in the face of such threats, stating, "No threat is going to stop me from representing my constituents. MAGA Republicans have chosen violence over voting and this is what it looks like."
The criminal complaint details that Shapiro's messages contained explicit threats, including one where he stated, "I'm going to come after you and kill you," and another where he menacingly declared his intention to harm Swalwell's children.
This incident highlights the growing concerns surrounding the safety and security of public officials as political tensions continue to escalate.
SHAPIRO ACCUSED OF MAKING THREATENING CALLS AND CHARGED FOR PRIOR COMMUNICATIONS
Introduction
Suspected Spy's Involvement
The suspicions around Swalwell's alleged connection to espionage stem from his past contact with a suspected spy, Christine Fang. It was during Swalwell's congressional campaign in 2012 that Fang made contact with his team and participated in fundraising efforts for his 2014 campaign.
Federal Investigators Alert Swalwell
Taking these concerns seriously, federal investigators informed Swalwell about their suspicions and also briefed Congress about Fang in 2015. In response to this information, Swalwell immediately cut off contact with her, as per his own account of the events.
Ethics Committee Probe
To further investigate Swalwell's association with Fang, the House Ethics Committee launched a probe in 2021. However, after a thorough examination, the probe concluded last year without finding any evidence of wrongdoing on Swalwell's part.
Shapiro's Threatening Calls
In a shocking turn of events, Adam Shapiro has been identified as the individual responsible for the threatening calls made to Eric Swalwell. The calls originated from Shapiro's residence in South Florida, as reported by investigators.
Prior Conviction
Further adding to the gravity of the situation, it has come to light that Shapiro has a prior conviction for making threatening communications to another victim. This conviction dates back to 2019 and serves as a testament to Shapiro's history of harassment.
It should be noted that no immediate comment was forthcoming from Shapiro's defense attorney regarding these latest accusations.
To stay updated on this ongoing matter, keep an eye out for future developments.
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