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Veteran Indicted for Threatening LoBiondo and Staffers

Was unhappy with his VA health care, threatened a ‘bloodbath’

A constituent of Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo, R-N.J., was indicted for threatening the congressman and his staffers. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
A constituent of Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo, R-N.J., was indicted for threatening the congressman and his staffers. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

A veteran who was unhappy with his health care was indicted on Wednesday after threatening to kill New Jersey Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo.

Joseph Brodie of Millville, New Jersey, was indicted for threatening LoBiondo and two staff members after making a “series of demands,” USA Today reported.

According to the indictment, Brodie knew he crossed some lines, saying in a text to an acquaintance that he was sure the Secret Service would investigate.

“I’m filling the sandbags now to have a bunker by my house. I’m not going down without a fight,” the text from Sept. 19 read.

Brodie, who has post-traumatic stress disorder, was arrested a day later after a well-being check. The indictment said he allegedly walked from his home carrying an unloaded assault rifle and put the barrel in his mouth and pulled the trigger three times.

Authorities said Brodie threatened a “bloodbath” and that he would kill everyone in LoBiondo’s Mays Landing office.

The indictment said Brodie became “became increasingly dissatisfied with the level of care that he received from the [Department of Veterans Affairs] and began contacting members of [LoBiondo’s] staff to report his dissatisfaction.”

Brodie began appealing to LoBiondo to use his position to assist him.

Over time, Brodie became more aggressive, saying in a phone call that staffers’ information could be found online and telling a staffer at the end of the call, “You’re a dead man.”

Brodie also allegedly sent an email later that day with satellite imagery of the New Jersey Republican’s office, saying, “See where your office is and how easy it is to find?”

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