Man indicted on charges of threatening Biden and Bennie Thompson with letter containing unknown powder

Cami Mondeaux

October 20, 08:23 AM October 20, 08:31 AM

A Pennsylvania man was indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday after allegedly threatening President Joe Biden and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) by sending a letter containing death threats and an unknown white powder.

Robert Maverick Vargo, 25, was indicted on charges of threatening the president of the United States, interstate communications with a threat, and influencing a federal official by threat after sending letters containing threats to kill the politicians, according to the Department of Justice. The letter was sent to the Rayburn House Office Building on Oct. 11 and prompted a shelter-in-place order for staff members.

SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE FOUND NEAR JAN. 6 COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN’S OFFICE

“I'm going to kill you! I will make you feel the rest of our pain & suffering,” the note read. “There is nowhere or nobody who can keep you from me. I am going to kill you & those you love. I promise you that I will keep my promise until the day of my death. … You & Joe Biden soon will face death for the wrongs you’ve done to US.”

The letter alluded to anthrax, a serious bacterial illness, and contained an unidentified white powder, according to court filings. Capitol Police later determined the powder did not pose a threat, and an investigation found that Vargo sent the letter from the Luzerne County Correctional Facility in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

The incident is still under investigation. If found guilty, Vargo faces up to 25 years in prison, followed by supervised release, as well as a fine.