Texas man sentenced to almost 3 years for threatening to kill Rep Maxine Waters.

A Texas man has been sentenced to nearly three years in jail for leaving threatening and racist voicemails for California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, according to United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner. Brian Michael Gaherty, 61, of Houston, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison and fined $10,000, with a hate crime enhancement added to his sentence. The Department of Justice announced the news, underscoring the severity of threats against public officials. United States Attorney Martin Estrada emphasized that threats to harm elected officials are unacceptable and will be vigorously prosecuted.

Gaherty pleaded guilty to one count of threatening a United States official in late January. Court documents revealed that he admitted to making threatening remarks towards Rep. Waters on four separate occasions in August and November of 2022. The voicemails left at Waters’ district office in Los Angeles County contained profanity and racist language, as detailed in an affidavit from U.S. Capitol Police agent Michael Guest.

In his racially charged tirades, Gaherty made violent threats towards the congresswoman, including acts of physical harm and even death. The threatening messages prompted a strong response from Waters, who expressed fears for her safety and the safety of her family due to Gaherty’s actions.

Despite warnings from authorities to cease his threatening behavior in October 2022, Gaherty persisted in making violent threats against Waters. In a November voicemail, he warned the congresswoman that she had made a mistake by reporting him to law enforcement and menacingly told her to “watch her back.” The persistence of these threats culminated in Gaherty’s eventual conviction and sentencing.

During her appearance in federal court, Waters spoke out against the growing trend of targeting people of color and women of color with threats of violence. She emphasized the need for accountability, stating that nobody is above the law. The intense emotional toll these threats have taken on Waters and her family was evident as she revealed the ongoing fear they live with daily.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers facing public officials, particularly those who are people of color or women of color. The justice system’s swift action in prosecuting and sentencing Gaherty sends a strong message that threats and attacks against elected officials will not be tolerated. It underscores the importance of safeguarding democracy and upholding the rule of law.

As the nation continues to grapple with issues of racial justice and equity, cases like these highlight the urgent need to address systemic racism and bigotry in all its forms. By holding individuals like Gaherty accountable for their actions, the justice system aims to deter future threats and violence against public servants like Rep. Maxine Waters.