An upstate New York lunatic allegedly threatened to murder Georgia Rep. Mike Collins over what he claimed was an “inaccurate” online article, federal investigators said.
Anthony Lantrell Bennett was arrested in Buffalo after he apparently sent a terroristic threat to the Peach State Republican and his son-in-law last week, the FBI and the Butts County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday.
“I understand politics. I understand disagreements. But there is a line that cannot be crossed,” Butts County Sheriff Gary Long.
“Threatening to kill a public official or his family is not politics — it is a criminal act, and we will take it seriously and hold those responsible accountable just as we did in this case,” Long added.
Authorities didn’t say how, what it contained specifically, or through what platform Bennett sent the message to Collins, but he allegedly copped to sending it during his interrogation — over what he said was an “inaccurate” story he read online, according to the FBI.
It is also currently unclear what story he was referring to and what set him off, but it was revealed by CNN in July that Collins’ son-in-law, David Alan Scheer II, previously shared antisemitic and white nationalist rhetoric.
“No American should have to worry that their home could be the next Butler, Pennsylvania or Utah Valley University,” Collins said in a statement following Bennett’s arrest.
“I’m grateful to the FBI, the Butts County Sheriff’s Department, and all law enforcement partners for acting quickly to protect my family.”
Collins, who is running for a US Senate seat, also slammed his opponent, Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, for allegedly painting him as a “monster.”
“When you mix false accusations with inflammatory rhetoric, it fuels the lunatics who want to settle political disagreements with violence,” Collins said.
In response to the incident, Ossoff said he “condemns all threats of violence.”
Ossoff currently holds a 9-point lead over Collins, based on a polling average compiled by Decision Desk HQ.
