Charge: Bernie Sanders supporter threatens to cut out Rep. McDermott's tongue [View all]

[MrWendel]

http://komonews.com/news/local/charge-bernie-sanders-supporter-threatens-to-cut-out-rep-mcdermotts-tongue

BY LEVI PULKKINEN



SEATTLE - A Seattle man accused of threatening to cut out U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott's tongue now faces felony charges.

King County prosecutors claim Jasper K. Bell made the threat because he was upset that McDermott, D-Seattle, was supporting Hillary Clinton for president. Currently jailed, Bell, 27, has been charged with intimidating a public servant and telephone harassment.

Bell had been fixated on McDermott for some time before the April 22 incident that saw him charged, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Susan Storey said in court paper. Bell is alleged to have made threatening calls to McDermott before arriving at his Seattle office that day.

"In one phone call he demanded the congressman's home address and threatened to cut his tongue out," Storey said in charging papers. "In another call he stated that the congressman would not be safe, even after he retires."

McDermott, a long-serving liberal, announced in January that he would be retiring after 14 terms in Congress. A competitive primary contest is underway for the seat representing Washington's deep-blue 7th District.

Witnesses at McDermott's downtown Seattle office told police Bell was yelling and spitting, and banging his fists against the office windows. He was arrested hours after that 1 p.m. incident.

McDermott canceled a public appearance due to the threats, Storey said, and had his staff take extra security precautions.

According to charging papers, McDermott told investigators he brought a shovel into his office "to use in self-defense if necessary." The shovel was hidden behind several flags.

The threats prompted Seattle police to station themselves outside McDermott's office and home. Capitol Police officers were flown out from Washington, D.C., to assist in the security operation, which included the FBI.

Writing the court, a Seattle police detective said McDermott's staff in Seattle and the capitol received 23 calls from Bell the day he was arrested. Bell, the detective said, made nonsensical statements before threatening to cut McDermott's tongue out.

"I need to speak to the (expletive) piece of (expletive) now," Bell said in one call, according to charging papers. "I will not be ignored."

Bell is alleged to have then called McDermott's District of Columbia office and made additional threats.

According to charging papers, Bell arrived at McDermott's downtown Seattle office just before 1 p.m. Staff activated an alarm after Bell pounded on office's locked glass doors.

Bell left before police arrived, the detective said, but officers responding to the complaint were at the front desk when Bell called in. An officer answered and spoke briefly with Bell.

"Do you think it is a good idea to threaten the congressman by saying you were going to cut his tongue out?" the officer asked.

"It was appropriate because my voice was being silenced," Bell replied, according to the officer's account.

Police arrested Bell at 8:15 p.m.

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