FBI tracks down California man who threatened Ajit Pai's family https://t.co/WXDxBYOjpH— Engadget (@engadget) June 30, 2018
A 33-year-old California man has been arrested on charges of threatening to kill the family of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. pic.twitter.com/3ZxayMr3HN— Katie Watson (@kathrynw5) June 29, 2018
PJ Media
written by Debra Heine
Friday June 29, 2018
A California man who was allegedly upset about the repeal of net neutrality was arrested today on charges of threatening to kill the family of Ajit Pai, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Markara Man, 33, is accused of sending three menacing emails to Chairman Pai’s email accounts, according to a DOJ press release. In the first email, Man allegedly accused Pai of being responsible for a child's suicide because of the repeal of net neutrality. In the second email, he allegedly threatened to kill Pai's family, listing three Arlington locales. The third email had no message, but showed an image of Chairman Pai with a blurry framed photograph of Chairman Pai and his family in the foreground.
FBI investigators were able to trace the emails to Man’s residence in Norwalk, California. When asked about the emails in May 2018, "Man admitted to the FBI that he sent the email threatening Chairman Pai’s family because he was 'angry' about the repeal of the net neutrality regulations and wanted to 'scare' Chairman Pai," the press release said.
Man has been charged with "threatening to murder a member of the immediate family of a U.S. official with the intent to intimidate or interfere with such official while engaged in the performance of official duties, or with the intent to retaliate against such official on account of the performance of official duties."
He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison if convicted. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Berrang will be prosecuting the case, according to the press release.
Ajit Pai has been a particular bete noir of the left since his ascension to FCC chairmanship.
From "Fox & Friends," December 15, 2017. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Hits Back at Net Neutrality Criticism From Jimmy Kimmel.
Late-night comedian John Oliver last year rallied his viewers to flood the FCC with calls and comments defending net neutrality, and compared Pai to a serial killer: "When the Code of Federal Regulations looks out its window at night, there’s just Ajit Pai, standing silently, holding his weed whacker, waiting for his chance,” he said.
There is no consideration about the rhetoric that is leading to countless death threats against R’s and has required countless people to get security details.
— (((AG))) (@AG_Conservative) June 29, 2018
He was angry about the repeal of net neutrality. Somehow this doesn't lead to any introspection in the media about the rhetoric and coverage surrounding that topics... https://t.co/JP94Epu3Zz— (((AG))) (@AG_Conservative) June 29, 2018
When net neutrality was being debated, media gave platform to people who insisted repealing a rule that was 2 years old would end the world. Ajit Pai & his fam faced racist attacks, harassment, and even bomb threats. No one in the media paused about environment that was created.— (((AG))) (@AG_Conservative) June 29, 2018
How many articles did we see in the last few weeks defending harassment of admin members at restaurants and homes?— (((AG))) (@AG_Conservative) June 29, 2018
The hateful environment is awful. I hope all those contributing to it take a pause, but it has to start w some self-reflection.
Fox News
written by Staff
Friday June 29, 2018
A Southern California man who was reportedly angry about the repeal of net neutrality regulations was arrested in Los Angeles on Friday after making a threat against the children of Federal Communication Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, authorities said.
The suspect, identified as Markara Man, 33, admitted to sending three threatening emails to Pai in December 2017 to “scare” the chairman because of his role in repealing the Obama-era rules, the Department of Justice said in a news release.
"I will find your children and I will kill them," Man wrote in one of the emails, according to court documents. The email also listed the names and addresses of several preschools in the area, though Pai’s children did not attend any of them, officials said.
In another message, Man accused Pai of being responsible for a child’s suicide. A third message contained a photo of the chairman and a framed photo with his family, officials said.
Federal agents traced the emails to Man’s home in Norwalk, near Los Angeles, and questioned him in May. He confessed to sending the emails under the handle "StubbleManliness@gmail.com" because it sounded "tougher," Politico reported, citing court documents.
Officials instructed Man to write an apology that was sent to Pai.
"I'm sorry I made a threat against your kids. That was crossing the line," he wrote in his message, authorities said.
Man was charged in federal court in Virginia with threatening to murder a U.S. official’s immediate family member with the intent to intimidate or interfere with the official's duties. The charge carries a maximum of 10 years in prison.
Pai and his family were victims of harassment last year when protesters stood outside their home and put up signs with his children’s names on them that read: “They will come to know the truth. Dad murdered Democracy in cold blood,” the Hill reported.
The chairman was also forced to cancel a January speaking engagement at a Las Vegas tech event following reported security concerns.
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