JUST IN: Ex-Opponent Of Popular GOP Rep. Charged With Threatening To Kill Her

A former primary opponent of U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) is facing federal charges for allegedly threatening to send a “Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” to kill his political rival. 

William Braddock, 41, is charged with threatening to kill his primary opponent for the 13th Congressional District of Florida in 2021, the Justice Department announced Friday. Braddock, who hails from St. Petersburg, Florida, is also accused of threatening an acquaintance of his opponent’s. Two two victims were described as “Victim 1″ and “Victim 2” in the indictment, which was unsealed in the Middle District of Florida on Thursday.

Prosecutors allege that on June 8, 2021, Braddock made several threats to injure or kill his primary opponent in a phone call with the second victim. He specifically claimed he would “”call up my Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” to kill the rival candidate.

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According to the DOJ, Braddock left the United States after making the threats and was residing in the Philippines. Braddock was recently deported from the Philippines to the United States and made his first court appearance in Los Angeles on Thursday, Fox News reported.

Luna, a rising star in the conservative movement, was not named specifically in the indictment. She did allege in 2021 civil court documents that Braddock was stalking her and wanted her dead.

A judge ultimately granted both Luna and conservative activist Erin Olszewski, who is also a personal friend of the congresswoman, a temporary restraining order against Braddock. He then dropped out of the Republican primary, though he also denied the allegations.

Politico reported at that time that Olszewski had secretly recorded a phone call with Braddock in which he made violent threats. “Luna’s going to go down and I hope it’s by herself,” Braddock allegedly said in the recording.

“For the better or the good of the majority of the people, we’ve got to sacrifice the few.”

Braddock denied the allegations in a text message to Politico at the time, claiming that the tape was “altered and edited.” He also threatened the outlet with legal action. “This is a dirty political tactic that has caused a lot of people a lot of stress and is completely unnecessary,” he reportedly said at the time.

Luna previously testified that several acquaintances had alerted her to Braddock’s threats in a hearing concerning the scope of the restraining order.

“Mr. Braddock clearly hated my guts and wanted to hurt me,” Luna said in court, according to The Associated Press. “I started getting very afraid of him. It was horrifying, and it still is.”

In the indictment unsealed earlier this week, Braddock is facing charges of interstate transmission of a true threat to injure another person. He faces a maximum of five years in prison if convicted.