Republican Claims DOJ Refused to Prosecute Threats Against His Family, Contrary to Treatment of Democrats
Rep. Jim Banks from Indiana criticized the Department of Justice (DOJ) for not prosecuting threats against his family, highlighting what he perceives as unequal treatment compared to threats against Democrats. He noted that the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana declined to prosecute a man named Aaron Thompson, despite apparent evidence of criminal threats. Thompson, who later admitted to making threatening calls while drunk because he disagreed with Banks’ political stance, was eventually prosecuted locally and received a two-year probation sentence. Banks pointed out this disparity in treatment by comparing his case to that of Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwal of California, suggesting that threats against Democratic members are taken more seriously by the DOJ.
Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) says the Department of Justice declined to prosecute threats against his family in contrast to how it has handled similar threats against Democrats.
Banks questioned Attorney General Merrick Garland about the seeming disparity in response to threats against Banks and threats against Democratic members of Congress. Banks wrote in a letter to the Justice Department chief that the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana “declined” to prosecute a man despite “clear evidence” of threats against Banks’ family, according to ABC News, which obtained a copy of the letter.
“When Capitol Police referred the criminal case against Aaron Thompson to the U.S. Attorney for Northern District of Indiana, they declined to prosecute despite clear evidence that Thompson violated federal law,” Banks wrote.
Banks received several threatening voicemails from Thompson, who was later prosecuted by a local district attorney in Indiana and sentenced to two years of probation.
“Three daughters. Hey, hey, hey, three bullets hey, hey, hey one wife yay. Oh yeah, yeah, we’ll give her two bullets,” Thompson said in one message, according to Banks’ letter.
In an interview with U.S. Capitol Police, Thompson admitted to calling and threatening Banks over disagreements with his political views. Thompson said he was intoxicated during the calls.
The DOJ’s treatment of Banks’ case contrasts with how the department handled threats leveled against Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California, according to Banks, who asked Garland why the cases were treated differently. A man accused of threatening the California Democrat pleaded guilty in May after being charged by federal prosecutors in January.
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In Swalwell’s case, an elderly Florida man left messages for the congressman, calling him a “moron” and accusing him of sleeping with a Chinese spy. The man also threatened Swalwell’s kids, saying, “I’m gonna kill your children.” The man said he was intoxicated at the time he left the messages for Swalwell.
In a case this week not featured in Banks’ letter, federal prosecutors secured a sentence of 33 months in prison and a $10,000 fine for a Texas man who was convicted of making threats against Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters of California. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced the sentence against Brian Michael Gaherty of Houston on Monday.
Gaherty pleaded guilty to leaving four threatening messages for Waters in August and November 2022. In one of the messages, Gaherty threatened to “put a cap” in Waters’ head, “cut [her] throat,” and “stomp” her.
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