State and local agencies are investigating emails sent to Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli that threatened the GOP candidate for governor and his family. Northern Virginia Bureau reporter David Culver has the story.
State and local agencies are investigating threatening emails sent to Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who is also a GOP candidate for governor.
In the messages, the sender threatens to harm Cuccinelli and his family, according to search warrants obtained by the News4 Northern Virginia Bureau.
One message - full of misspellings and profanity - ends with a warning to Cuccinelli: "btw don't run for congress il kill you," it reads.
The email was sent through the campaign's website, authorities said. The campaign then reported it to Virginia State Police.
"Nothing is more important to parents than the safety of their children," Cuccinelli said in a statement to News4. "And like any parent, I take a threat to my children seriously."
Investigators traced the IP address attached to the email to a Michigan home, where they questioned the residents. No arrests have been made, state police said.
According to the Department of Justice website, making threats through email is a federal offense. If the accusations are proven true -- and if they are proven to be what the court considers "true threats" of violence, not constitutionally protected free speech -- whoever is behind the threatening message could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
