Crime

N.H. man accused of making phone threats to members of Congress, arrested in Boston

The outside of the US Capitol is seen in Washington, DC, January 12, 2021, ahead of a House vote calling on US Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove US President Donald Trump from office. - The House of Representatives will vote Tuesday on a longshot bid to get Vice President Mike Pence and the cabinet to invoke the US Constitution's 25th Amendment, which would declare Trump unfit to perform his duties and install Pence as acting president. Democrats will follow up the 25th Amendment vote with impeachment proceedings in the House on January 13, 2021. The single charge of "incitement of insurrection" is all but sure to get majority support. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images

By Associated Press

1 minute to read

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire man has been accused of leaving phone messages in December threatening to hang six members of Congress if they didn’t support President Donald Trump.

Ryder Winegar, 33, of Amherst, was arrested in Boston on Monday and faced a federal magistrate on Tuesday. He was temporarily detained pending preliminary and detention hearings. A message seeking comment was left with his attorney.

Prosecutors allege that Winegar identified himself or his number on some of the calls. They said the voicemail messages were left Dec. 16, 2020. The messages threatened to hang the members of Congress if they did not “get behind Donald Trump” as president following the election.

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The names of the members of Congress were not identified in the complaint, which was filed several days later.

The U.S. Attorney’s office in New Hampshire said the case was investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police with assistance from the United States Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Amherst Police Department.

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