Man Charged With Threatening Senator's Staff

JANUARY 10--A Colorado man who reportedly claimed, “I’m a schizophrenic and I need help,” is facing federal charges for making repeated death threats against staff members of Senator Michael Bennet, court records show.

John Troy Davis, 44, allegedly placed a series of telephone calls to Bennet’s Denver office over the past month to complain about his Social Security benefits. During one call, Davis reportedly said, “I’m just going to come down there and shoot you all,” according to a January 7 affidavit sworn by FBI Agent Jonathan Grusing.

Davis, pictured at right, also threatened, “To get your attention, I will go down there and set fire to the perimeter." Davis added that he “may go to terrorism.”

The felony complaint against Davis was filed Friday in U.S. District Court, a day before an Arizona gunman killed six individuals and wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in a deadly spree outside a Tucson supermarket. If convicted of the charge, Davis faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

While court records indicate that prosecutors would seek pre-trial detention for Davis, it is unclear whether the defendant has appeared yet for a court hearing. (3 pages)