Man pleads guilty to threatening GOP senators on Twitter over gun violence

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A 28-year-old man from Arlington, Virginia, has pleaded guilty to threatening two Republican U.S. senators via Twitter.

Kyler Schmitz appeared in Alexandria, Virginia, federal court Tuesday, saying little beyond his agreement that he was guilty on one count of making threatening interstate communications.

“I’m going to shoot you in the head for allowing someone to murder my loved ones,” Schmitz tweeted to one senator, according to court documents. “I’m going to shoot you in the face, you will not hurt my people again,” another tweet said.

The tweets were sent in June, just a few days after 49 people were killed at a gay club in Orlando by a man with an assault rifle. Defense attorney Geremy Kamens said Schmitz was trying to make a political point about gun violence and Republican opposition to gun control legislation. Schmitz never actually owned a firearm or took any steps to acquire one, he said in court filings.

“Mr. Schmitz engaged in the communications primarily out of his opposition to guns and gun violence,” Kamens said.

The court documents did not name the senators, but a Washington Post reporter saw tweets addressed to Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri and John Hoeven of North Dakota, as well as one tagged to Sen. David Vitter, R-La., before they were taken down.

Schmitz has been undergoing mental health counseling since his arrest, under court order.

Under the plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence of no more than six months detention. Kamens plans to ask for probation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Berrang argued that pleading guilty to the crime of interstate threats requires Schmitz to be incarcerated until his Dec. 16 sentencing. Judge Gerald Bruce Lee agreed with the defense that incarceration was not mandatory or necessary; Schmitz will remain out on bond under several conditions, including that he not use Twitter.

(c) 2016, The Washington Post ยท Rachel Weiner

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