American in Thailand facing up to 10 years for threats against Tillis, staff

(The Center Square) – Ten years in prison is the maximum punishment that can be imposed for an American living in Thailand following his guilty plea on a charge of threatening to kill North Carolina Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis.

Prosecutors say Eric Charles Welton, 53, in September 2021 called Tillis’ office in Raleigh and said he would “put a bullet through each of (their) heads.” And, he said he would come to the state and “mow … down” the “whole (expletive) state,” a release says.

In the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Chief Justice Richard Myers accepted the plea in a case prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Lori Warlick and investigated by the FBI.

“When threats are directed at elected officials, it can impact their ability to effectively serve their constituents and their country,” said Robert DeWitt, the special agent in charge of the FBI in North Carolina.

Daniel Bubar, an interim U.S. attorney, said his office would work with lawmen to investigate and prosecute threats or intimidation against public officials.

- Advertisement -

Threats were part of issues involving FEMA and recovery from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and Florida last fall.

In another high-profile national incident involving the Tarheel State, the Greensboro home of former U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy was the site of protests and threats in summer of 2020.

Threats against public officials snagged the spotlight over the weekend when the home of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was set afire. No one was injured and a man was taken into custody.

Nationally, the private business interests of a member of the Trump administration – Elon Musk – has been targeted this year. Musk leads the Department of Government Efficiency for President Donald Trump, and the largest shareholder of Tesla is Musk.

spot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

African and Caribbean Nations Call for Reparations for Slave Trade, Propose Global Fund

Nations across Africa and the Caribbean, deeply impacted by...

Sports betting expert offers advice on paying taxes for gambling winnings

(The Center Square) – Tax season is underway, and...

Health care company agrees to pay $22.5 million to settle claims of over billing

A health care company agreed to pay nearly $22.5...

Entertainment district benefits don’t outweigh the cost, economists say

(The Center Square) — Weeks later, after more details...

Business association ‘disappointed’ by WA L&I’s proposed workers comp rate hike

(The Center Square) – The Association of Washington Business...

Seattle police eye GPS tech as alternative to high-speed pursuits

(The Center Square) – The Seattle Police Department is...

Medical debt relief bill clears House

(The Center Square) - For many Pennsylvanians, medical debt...

Report: Louisiana still battling fentanyl crisis

(The Center Square) — Louisiana continues to face one...

WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Wednesday May 14th, 2025

(The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois...

ICE-D.C. sweep: 189 arrests, notices to 187 local businesses

(The Center Square) – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-District...

Border Patrol applications highest in U.S. history under Trump

Since President Donald Trump took office, U.S. Border Patrol...

More like this
Related

From Boulder to the Big Leagues: How Shedeur Sanders’ Draft Journey Mirrors Eli Manning’s Past

Why Shedeur Sanders Became a College Football and Video...

Seattle police eye GPS tech as alternative to high-speed pursuits

(The Center Square) – The Seattle Police Department is...

Medical debt relief bill clears House

(The Center Square) - For many Pennsylvanians, medical debt...

Report: Louisiana still battling fentanyl crisis

(The Center Square) — Louisiana continues to face one...