Man arrested in threats to kill Republicans, including Trump, DeSantis, Rubio, police say
Police in Florida have arrested a 61-year-old man who they say made online threats to kill President Donald Trump, his neighbor, and Republican politicians, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott.
Richard Szala was arrested early Wednesday after police received information that Szala was posting YouTube comments threatening to shoot and kill the president and other Republican politicians, Clearwater police said. He also threatened to shoot and kill “all Republicans,” including his Trump-supporting neighbor, according to Szala’s arrest affidavit.
Besides threatening Florida’s governor and Rubio and Scott, Szala also made threats to kill U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Clearwater Lt. Michael Walek said Thursday.
Also on the list: Kentucky U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and Florida U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, according to Bay News 9.
Szala’s IP address was traced to his Clearwater home, WTSP reported.
When Szala was taken into custody, he confessed to making the online threats but told investigators he didn’t mean it and that he was just frustrated with the Republican party, Walek said.
Szala told investigators he didn’t plan to commit the shootings and “was just running his mouth to negative posts about Democrats,” according to his arrest affidavit.
Walek said that Clearwater police take threats seriously, and that they found enough cause to arrest Szala. Police also seized his computer and gun.
Szala, who is registered to vote as a Democrat, was arrested and charged with making a false report for threatening to use a gun in a violent manner. He was released Thursday on a $10,000 bond. He was previously accused of phone harassment in Illinois in 1989, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
He does not have an attorney listed in court records.
The FBI, the U.S. Secret Service and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement were also involved in the investigation.
This article was updated on Nov. 10 with additional information.
This story was originally published November 5, 2020 at 12:36 PM.
