One of the DC police who provide motorcycle escorts to White House officials allegedly made death threats regarding the First Lady, Michelle Obama, to other officers, even describing the weapon he would use to kill her, according to the Washington Post:
The police department’s Internal Affairs Division is investigating the alleged comments and notified the U.S. Secret Service Wednesday, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to give details of the investigation. […]
During that conversation, the officials said, the officer allegedly said he would shoot the First Lady and then used his phone to retrieve a picture of the firearm he said he would use. It was not immediately clear what type of firearm was allegedly shown.
An officer overheard the alleged threat and reported it to a police lieutenant at the Division, who immediately notified superiors, the officials said.
This isn’t some anonymous nut on the internet or mouth hate radio shock jock. This is a law enforcement officer charged with protecting the First Family and other White House officials. One can only wonder how many fellow law enforcement officers share his opinion. And don’t tell me this is just some little “joke” we can brush off, and that liberals have no sense of humor. If any DC police officers had made similar threats against Laura Bush you can rest assured not a single Republican or conservative would have called it a laughing matter.
In today’s followup story the Post indicates the President has been informed of the alleged threats to the First Lady:
President Obama has been notified of the threats a D.C. police officer is alleged to have made toward the first lady earlier this week, a spokesman for the president said Friday morning.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters traveling to Virginia with the president on Air Force One that Obama is “aware” that an officer, who worked as a motorcycle escort for White House officials and other dignitaries, had been moved to administrative duty Wednesday after he allegedly was overheard making threatening comments about Michelle Obama.
Several police officials confirmed the comments, which allegedly involved shooting the first lady. The police department’s Internal Affairs Division is investigating the alleged comments and notified the U.S. Secret Service on Wednesday, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to give details of the investigation.
I would suggest that if true this should be a firing offense for this unidentified officer and he should be prosecuted for a felony under the District of Columbia’s criminal code:
There are two forms of the criminal offense of “threats” in Washington, D.C.: (1) threats to do bodily injury, and (2) threats to kidnap or injure a person or damage his property.
“Threats to do bodily injury” is a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to 6 months in prison and/or maximum fine of $500. In order to secure a conviction for this offense, the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant spoke or communicated words that would put a reasonable person in fear of serious harm. D.C. Crimes Code § 22-407.
Threats as a felony offense requires the government to prove that the defendant spoke or communicated words that would put a reasonable person in fear of being kidnapped or seriously injured or of having his property damaged. This offense is punishable by imprisonment of up to 20 years and a $5000 fine. D.C. Crimes Code § 22-1810.
