A former congressional candidate in Florida has been charged after allegedly threatening to send “the Russian mafia” after his opponent.
William Robert Braddock III, 41, was charged Thursday in federal court with threatening now-Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R). Braddock and Luna were rivals during the 2021 Republican primary election for Florida’s 13th Congressional District, which includes the Tampa area.
In a June 2021 phone call, Braddock told an acquaintance of Luna’s, Erin Olszewski, that if he were not ahead in a soon-to-be-released poll, he would have to “sacrifice” his opponent, according to the charging documents.
“I will be the next congressman for this district. Period, end of discussion,” Braddock said, according to the documents. “I really don’t want to have to anybody’s life — end anybody’s life for the good of the people of the United States of America … ’cause it’ll break my heart. But, if it needs to be done, it needs to be done.”
Olszewski secretly recorded the conversation in which Braddock threatened to hire “a Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” to kill Luna, advising Olszewski to stay away from Luna, court documents say.
Braddock also warned Olszewski not to be on the “wrong side of supporting [Luna], because if you’re near her when time comes, I just don’t want that to happen to you.” Braddock said according to the charging documents. “You’ve got kids … so don’t be associated with [Luna] under any circumstances, please.”
Braddock’s attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday afternoon.
Luna and Olszewski sought protective orders against Braddock that year, accusing him of stalking them, according to Pinellas County court records. Braddock denied the stalking allegations.
Luna and Olszewski testified in September 2021 that they feared for their lives, according to Florida Politics.
“This man has put me through emotional hell,” Luna testified. “I think that he’s evil.”
Braddock refused to testify, citing his Fifth Amendment rights. He was not charged with stalking.
Braddock withdrew from the primary election, which Luna won before securing the seat in the 2022 midterms, and moved to the Philippines, according to a Justice Department news release. He was deported to the United States and appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom Thursday to face one count of interstate transmission of a true threat to injure another person.
The charges were filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. He could face up to five years in prison if convicted.
Melvin Soto, a spokesperson for Luna, declined to comment on the indictment, but he highlighted how Luna is one of many women who received death threats while running for and serving in office.
“Female members of Congress are disproportionately targeted for stalking, violence, and harassment compared to their male counterparts,” Soto said. “This alarming trend points to a broader and more disturbing issue of violence in the political arena.”