Former congressional candidate William Braddock, 41, of St. Petersburg, Florida, has been charged with making threats to dispatch a hit squad to murder his political opponent during his campaign against Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.). The alleged threats, including a reference to a “Russian-Ukrainian hit squad,” were made on June 8, 2021. Although the victim was not explicitly named by prosecutors, it is known that Braddock was running against fellow Republican Luna at the time.
Braddock’s derogatory remarks about Luna, captured on audio, referred to her as a “dead squirrel” and “a f—ing speed bump in the road.” Following the incident, Braddock fled to the Philippines but was eventually extradited back to the United States. He now faces a charge of interstate transmission of a true threat to injure another person, as confirmed by the Justice Department. Braddock appeared in a Los Angeles federal court on Thursday.
Despite the threats, Luna emerged victorious in the election and was sworn into Congress in January 2023. She had previously lost the seat to former Florida Governor Charlie Crist during the 2020 cycle. A conservative activist recorded Braddock making the chilling threat against Luna, which was later reported by Politico. In the audio, Braddock expressed reluctance but stated that if it needed to be done, he would not hesitate to take someone’s life for the good of the United States.
Initially, Braddock denied making the threat and suggested that the audio may have been altered. However, a judge granted a restraining order against him, and he eventually dropped out of the race. Braddock now faces a potential sentence of up to five years in prison.
This indictment against Braddock comes at a time when federal prosecutors are intensifying efforts to combat election-related threats and political violence during the 2024 election cycle. Luna recently disclosed that her office received a “very serious shooting threat,” refraining from providing further details due to an ongoing investigation by law enforcement. She also highlighted a recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump’s life, emphasizing the need for vigilance.
Luna has faced additional challenges, including being doxxed and labeled a “threat to democracy” by her Democratic challenger, Whitney Fox. The Post reached out to a Luna spokesperson for comment. Luna is currently favored to win reelection for Florida’s 13th Congressional District. The House Democratic campaign arm has recently included the race in its Red to Blue program.
