A Pennsylvania man was arrested on Wednesday after reportedly making verbal antisemitic threats toward Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro at the office of State Representative Leanne Kruger, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
Richard John Franklin, 65, had reportedly visited the district office to seek assistance with paying outstanding taxes.
While being helped by a staff member, he began using antisemitic slurs directed at Governor Shapiro and threatened to commit arson at the governor’s mansion, police stated.
After making these threats, state troopers from the Political Violence Threat Unit met with Franklin at his home later that day, where he provided inconsistent accounts of the incident at the district office, CBS News reported.
Suspect tried to frame the threats as 'postive'
According to the police report, Franklin admitted to using an antisemitic slur and claimed that his statements about burning the governor’s mansion were ‘sympathetic’ and ‘positive in nature’ because the Governor and his family had previously survived an arson attack.
Franklin was taken into custody and charged with terrorist threats, ethnic intimidation, harassment, and disorderly conduct.
He was taken to Pennsylvania's Delaware County Prison after he was unable to post $100,000 bail, and scheduled for a preliminary hearing next week, according to CBS News.
Previous arson attack on Shapiro's home
Shapiro and his family had previously survived an arson attack last year while celebrating Passover.
Their residence was set on fire overnight, prompting the family's evacuation.
This previous attack was reportedly motivated by Shapiro's perceived stance on Palestine.
The attacker, Cody Balmer, called 911 shortly after the incident occurred early on a Sunday morning, identifying himself and telling the operators that Shapiro needed to know he "will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people," according to the police search warrant.