Maxine Waters courageously attends sentencing hearing for death threats

LMaxine Waters, a longtime California congresswoman, was present this week at the sentencing of a man convicted of making racist death threats against her.

Waters was bravely present in a Los Angeles courtroom Monday when Brian Michael Gaherty, a white man from Houston, Texas, was told by a federal judge that he would live in prison for nearly three years due to of his hateful actions against a duly elected official.

Gaherty was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison and fined $10,000 for a series of phone calls he made to Waters' congressional office that U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner said were motivated by the race of the lawmaker – criteria that have served to increase hate crimes. be added to the sentence, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said in a news release.

“Threats to harm or kill elected officials are anathema to our nation’s values ​​and must not – and will not – be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada.

Gaherty specifically threatened to kill Waters by putting “a cap” between her eyes and said she “better watch your back,” among other threats stated in the press release:

Gaherty admitted in his plea agreement to threatening to assault and murder Waters on four occasions in August and November 2022. Gaherty made these threats with the intent to prevent, intimidate and interfere with Waters while that she was engaged in the performance of her official duties. homework.

Specifically, Gaherty left four voicemails at Waters' Los Angeles County district office, each containing a violent threat, profanity, and racist and misogynistic language. In August 2022, Gaherty threatened to “put a hood between the congresswoman's eyes”, to “cut [her] throat”, “tramples her”. He further warned that she “better move out” because he and his “local boys” had a “contract” on her life.

Authorities contacted Gaherty and warned him to disengage in October 2022, but weeks later he persisted in his violent threats. In November 2022, Gaherty left Waters two additional voicemails, informing Waters that she “had done [expletive] » when reporting his threats to law enforcement, and said: “It's not a threat. It's a promise.” He also threatened to meet Waters “on the street” and “get on board.” [her] face”, and again told him that he and his “mob” had a contract to “take [her]…out.” Finally, he warned, “You better watch your back.”

Although Waters showed courage in attending the sentencing hearing, she admitted that Gaherty's threats took a toll on her, according to Courthouse News Service.

“I’m scared,” Waters told the court during sentencing. “I’m afraid of being approached by strangers.”

The Courthouse News Service reported that Waters “told the judge the threats gave him nightmares; she found Gaherty's promise to slit her throat particularly disturbing.

Gaherty apologized to Waters and asked for forgiveness.

But Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Alexander said Gaherty's words caused harm, even though he never followed through on his threats. Alexander told the court that Gaherty intended to “silence [Waters]. To tell him: “Take up less space as an African-American.”

Waters suggested Gaherty's apology was hollow and said his conviction could help discourage others from making the same kind of racist and hateful death threats against anyone, let alone an elected member of Congress.

“I hope this will serve as a deterrent to those who would kill us and terrorize us,” Waters said, adding, “When you're in that situation, you're going to do everything you can to avoid losing.”

This is America.

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The post 'I'm Scared': Maxine Waters Courageously Witnesses Sentencing of Convict Who Made Hateful, Racist Death Threats appeared first on NewsOne.

'I'm scared': Maxine Waters courageously attends sentencing of convict who made racist, hateful death threats, originally published on newsone.com