As first reported by CNN, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia confirmed to NBC News on Friday that a “Georgia man was arrested on charges of threatening to kill Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.” As reported, Sean Patrick Cirillo, of Macon, has been “charged with using his phone to threaten Greene, R-Ga., and her staff.”
“Senior law enforcement sources” allege that Cirillo called Greene’s office twice on Wednesday, threatening to kill her. Cirillo was arrested by the FBI and is now behind bars. Cirillo’s first appearance in federal court is scheduled for Monday.
Greene’s office made a recording of the call. Greene’s office shared the recording with NBC News. Contents of the call, or some of them, indicate the caller, alleged to be Cirillo, said, “You don’t think it’s going to happen when you are out of power?” and “You don’t think you are going to get payback?” As reported, these comments were sufficient for the FBI to arrest Cirillo.
Representative Greene praised the array of law enforcement agencies which participated in the investigation that led to Cirillo’s arrest. Greene is quoted as saying: “From Rome City Police, the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Capitol Police, the House Sergeant at Arms, and ultimately the FBI who made the arrest, every official acted quickly to put this man behind bars.” In her statement of thanks on Friday to law enforcement, Greene enforcement in a statement on Friday, saying they “acted swiftly in response to this murderous threat.”
Greene is quoted as saying that “Threats to murder elected officials should never be tolerated,” no matter their political affiliation.” Greene pointed out that she was not the only person threatened. “I’m not the only victim with this threat of violence. My family is threatened. My staff is threatened. I even had to close my district office due to the potential of violence. It’s wrong and never should happen.”
Greene linked these political threats with her support for “the Second Amendment.” Greene elaborated: “Threats of violence must be taken seriously. And that’s exactly why I take my Second Amendment rights seriously.” Background information discloses that Greene has recently supported a censure resolutions against Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and for filing articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
