Abingdon, VIRGINIA – Federal officials announced today the arrest of a California man accused of using social media to communicate threats against a member of the United States House of Representatives.
The United States Attorney’s Office charged Eun Soo Lee, 28, of Cypress, California, in a criminal complaint with one count of making a threatening communication to injure another person through interstate commerce. Lee was arrested Thursday in California.
“The First Amendment does not protect individuals who use social media and other online forms of communication to threaten violence,” United States Attorney Cullen stated. “This United States Attorney’s Office will continue to hold accountable those who use social media to threaten others.”
According to the criminal complaint and affidavit, on May 5, 2017, Facebook user “Fwafefewawe Gawefawef,” later identified to be Lee, sent a number of threatening messages to Republican Rep. Tom Garrett.
The threatening messages included:
“I would love to kick you hard in the face, breaking it. Then I’d cut your stomach open with a chainsaw, exposing your intestines. Then I’d cut your windpipe in two with a boxcutter. Hopefully you’ll get what’s coming to you. F**cking bitch”
“You’re dead if I ever meet you in real life, fu**cker. I’ll fu**ing kill you.”
“I would love to fu**ing send your fu**ing useless ass to the hospital in intensive care, fighting for your worthless life.”
Investigators interviewed Lee on July 13, 2017 in Cypress, California at which time he admitted to sending threatening messages to Congressman Garrett. Lee said he sent the threats because he was frustrated with the Garrett’s views. Lee also admitted to sending similar threatening messages to other elected officials.
