Florida GOP Candidate Charged with Death Threat Against Opponent
- William Braddock faces federal charges for issuing a death threat against fellow Republican candidate Anna Paulina Luna during the 2021 primary.
- The threat was recorded and led to a restraining order against Braddock, although local authorities initially declined to file charges.
- The case highlights the federal government's commitment to ensuring election workers can operate without fear of threats or intimidation.
William Braddock, a former Republican congressional candidate from St. Petersburg, Florida, has been charged with making a death threat against fellow GOP candidate Anna Paulina Luna during the 2021 primary race for Florida's 13th Congressional District. The threat was recorded and later leaked, prompting Luna and a supporter to seek a restraining order against Braddock. Although local authorities did not pursue charges, federal prosecutors took action under the Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force, which aims to protect election workers from intimidation. Braddock, who had left the country and was found to be illegally residing in the Philippines, was recently deported back to the U.S. The case is now being investigated by the FBI in collaboration with local police.