‘Violence will not be tolerated’
Man threatened family of Brooklyn Rep. Jeffries during insurrection: Feds
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
Federal agents have
charged a California man
for making violent threats to
harm the family of Brooklyn
Congressman Hakeem Jeffries,
as well as the New York
relative of a journalist, prosecutors
announced Jan. 26.
Robert Lemke, 35, faces up
to fi ve years in federal prison
for allegedly making threatening
interstate communications,
according to US Attorney Audrey
Strauss of the Southern
District of New York.
Prosecutors allege that
Lemke made the menacing remarks
to Jeffries and the unidentifi
ed journalist on Jan. 6
— the same day that an angry
mob of Trump supporters at
the so-called “Stop the Steal”
rally stormed the US Capitol
in an attempt to interrupt the
certifi cation of the presidential
election results.
“Rather than peaceably
disagree, Lemke allegedly
threatened to harm those individuals’
families, demanding
they retract their statements,”
Strauss said in a statement.
“While in any election it is
inevitable that some will be
disappointed in the result,
threats of violence cannot and
will not be tolerated.”
Investigators picked up the
suspect during an investigation
COURIER L 4 IFE, JAN. 29-FEB. 4, 2021
by the FBI-NYPD Joint
Terrorism Task Force.
Lemke allegedly sent a text
message to one of Jeffries’
brothers, which included a
photo of a home in the same
neighborhood as the legislator’s
relative. Jeffries is chair
of the House Democratic Caucus,
and gained national
prominence while serving as a
manager during former President
Trump’s fi rst impeachment
trial last year.
In the text to Jeffries’
brother, Lemke allegedly
wrote, “Your brother is putting
your entire family at risk
with his lies and other words.
We are armed and nearby your
house. You had better have a
word for him.”
Prosecutors said Lemke
further claimed that he had
spoken with Jeffries’ son that
he knew where his kids were.
On the same day, Lemke allegedly
sent similar threats to
the congressman’s sister-inlaw,
telling her to “calm your
husband down” and that “we
saw on the hidden camera he
was quite stirred up.”
Also on Jan. 6, federal agents
allege, Lemke sent threats via
text to a journalist’s relative of
a similar nature. He indicated
that the journalist’s “words are
putting you and your family at
risk” and that “we are armed
and ready.” Lemke allegedly
described the “we” to which he
referred as thousands of “active/
retired law enforcement”
and military.
An examination of Lemke’s
Facebook account revealed
threats made prior to the Capitol
raid. On Nov. 7, 2020 — the
day major media outlets projected
Joe Biden as the winner
of the presidential election
over former President Trump
— Lemke allegedly posted
about Trump’s false claims
of a rigged election, writing,
“Folks. Be ready for war.”
In a statement, Jeffries’
offi ce expressed gratitude to
the FBI, US Capitol Police, the
NYPD and other law enforcement
authorities “for their
commitment to protecting the
safety and well-being of his
family and all Members of the
United States Congress.”
Several city residents allegedly
involved in the Jan.
6 putsch are currently awaiting
prosecution for their role
in the attempted overthrow of
the elected president, including
Sheepshead Bay resident
Dominick Madden.
Jeffries represents New
York’s 8th Congressional
District, which includes the
Brooklyn communities of Fort
Greene, Clinton Hill, Bed-
Stuy, Brownsville, East New
York, Canarsie, Mill Basin
and Coney Island.
Family members of Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (seen here) received
violent threats via text on Jan. 6. Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech
1 2 3 4 5
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