Maryland man charged with threats to execute Biden and Harris on national TV, harm voters
FREDERICK, Md. (WJLA) — A Maryland man is accused of threatening to execute former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris on national television, as well as harm voters, according to the United States Justice Department.
James Dale Reed, 42, of Frederick, Maryland, was arrested last Thursday after confessing to writing a very graphic and threatening letter and leaving it on the doorstep of a Frederick residence which had signs in the yard supporting the two candidates for president and vice president.
Reed is also accused of threatening to target Biden/Harris supporters, saying he had a list of homes and addresses.
DOJ says that Reed delivered the letter in the early morning hours of October 4, and the delivery was captured by a door camera.
A passage from the disturbing letter can be seen below:
This is a warning to anyone reading this letter if you are a Biden/Harris supporter you will be targeted. We have a list of homes and addresses by your election signs. We are the ones with those scary guns, We are the ones your children have nightmares about. When We capture Grandpa Biden We will all severely beat him to the point of death as for Mrs. Harris she will be bent over and Anally raped by my rifle barrel. Then for the Grand end the [sic] both will be executed on National Television.
The DOJ says that there was no connection between Reed and the occupants of the residence where the letter was dropped off. Investigators say they worked to identify Reed in the door camera after receiving a tip from a citizen.
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A person reportedly familiar with Reed viewed the door camera footage and confirmed it was Reed in the video.
Reed was interviewed by investigators on October 13 and denied leaving a threatening letter or being the person shown on the door camera. Two days later, he confessed and was arrested.
The right to vote and peacefully support the candidate of your choice are bedrocks of our democracy,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur in a statement. “Conduct like this that threatens major candidates and fellow citizens only undermines our democracy and the principles upon which America was founded. We will not tolerate threatening conduct that seeks to intimidate, harass or dissuade Americans from exercising their right to vote.
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Reed is currently in state custody faces a maximum of five years in federal prison if he is convicted.
A neighbor described some past bizarre behavior from Reed in an interview with ABC7's Kevin Lewis Wednesday afternoon.
