Crime
“Remember what happened to Charlie Kirk? Next time you people stand at a podium, you better f****** duck.”
An Arkansas man was arrested and charged Wednesday for allegedly threatening two Massachusetts members of Congress, federal prosecutors announced.
David Czerniak, 62, of Hatfield, Arkansas, was indicted on two counts of interstate transmission of threatening communications in the Western District of Arkansas, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts.
Czerniak reportedly left threatening voicemails for two Democratic members of Congress, officials said. Officials did not release the names of the lawmaker allegedly targeted.
“I’m going to let you know one thing you and any of your family members will pay the consequences and would be responsible if any of these f****** illegal immigrants harm my family and friends in any way. It’s called an eye for an eye,” Czerniak allegedly said in a voicemail on or about Feb. 7, 2025. “This ain’t a threat. This is called freedom of speech because you wanted f****** open borders. You took my safety and security away. I’ll do the same to you.”
“If another ICE agent, federal agent, any of them get hurt, you better watch your f****** backs. It’s an eye for an eye, mother******; you’re f****** playing with danger,” Czerniak reportedly said in a voicemail on or about Dec. 6, 2025. “Remember what Timothy McVeigh did? Remember what happened to Charlie Kirk? Next time you people stand at a podium, you better f****** duck. You better watch your back, I’m telling you.”
“Americans can and will disagree on policy and politics, but those disagreements must never escalate into threats or acts of violence,” Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division Ted E. Docks said in a press release
“Threats of violence against elected officials are not protected speech. They are federal crimes,” United States Attorney Leah B. Foley said in the release. “We will not tolerate behavior intended to terrorize public officials, their families or their communities.”
The charge of interstate transmission of threatening communications provides a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
Czerniak is expected to appear in court in the Western District of Arkansas Thursday and in Boston federal court at a later date, court filings said.
Attroney information for Czerniak was not publicly listed Wednesday night.
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