William Braddock, a former candidate for Congress in Florida, has been charged after allegedly threatening to kill his opponent, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), in 2021. The threats were made in an audio recording, where Braddock claimed he could call a “Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” to take Luna out. The shocking comments led to Braddock being charged with making true threats.

In the audio, Braddock referred to Luna as a “dead squirrel” and a “speed bump in the road,” while suggesting he could have her killed. The recording, captured by a conservative activist, was later used as evidence to obtain a restraining order against Braddock. He denied the allegations and said the audio may have been tampered with, but the court moved forward with the restraining order.

Following the threats, Braddock left the country and traveled to the Philippines. However, US authorities recently extradited him back to face charges. The Justice Department announced that Braddock has been formally charged with one count of interstate transmission of a true threat to injure another person.

Braddock appeared in federal court in Los Angeles last Thursday. As this case unfolds, many are focusing on the safety risks that elected officials face. Rep. Luna, who assumed office in January 2023, recently disclosed that her office received another serious threat, which is currently under investigation. Luna’s team expressed concern over the growing hostility and violence toward public officials, calling for more measures to ensure their safety.