Image Credit: @MarshaBlackburn / X
The Center Square [By Kim Jarrett] –
The U.S. Department of Justice said Thursday it has filed charges against a Tennessee woman accused of threatening U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn.
The investigation began in May when one of Blackburn’s staffers listened to a voicemail from someone threatening the Republican senator.
“I’m gonna shoot her with a gun. I’m gonna blow up her head on national TV. She will literally have brains splattered behind her because she will not be a person,” the caller said, according to information from the Justice Department.
The FBI arrested Penelope R. Convertino, 22, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., on Thursday. She’s charged with making a threat to murder a federal official with the intent to impede, intimidate, and interfere with Blackburn while she was engaged in the performance of her official duties, the department said.
“Our public officials should be able to do their jobs without receiving vile death threats,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “Threatening public officials with deadly violence cannot and will not be tolerated. We will not hesitate to hold those who make these kinds of violent threats accountable for their crimes.”
The maximum penalty is 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
Blackburn issued a statement after news broke of the arrest.
“Threats against the life of any public official are unacceptable and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent,” Blackburn said. “I am grateful to law enforcement and federal prosecutors in the Middle District of Tennessee for taking this threat seriously and for their swift action. My focus remains on serving the people of Tennessee, and I will not be intimidated or deterred by those who seek to silence me.”
Blackburn announced earlier this month that she is running for governor.
One Response
Some dimmercrap “judge” will have her freed shortly.