An Illinois man has pleaded guilty to making a threat against Rep. Rodney Davis during a profanity-laden call to his office.
Randall Tarr, 65, admitted in court on Friday that he threatened to shoot the Illinois Republican in a voicemail that he left on the phone of the congressman’s Decatur, Illinois, office last November. According to court documents, Tarr told investigators he became angry after seeing a TV commercial about Davis and decided to call the office number from the commercial.
“You backing the Russians, boy?” Tarr said. “What’s wrong with you? Are you … so f—ing stupid? I was in the military for eight years, and you son of a bitch are backing the Russians over our own intelligence?”
“What is wrong with you, Rodney? Oh my God. I’m not voting for you next time. You f—er,” he continued. “I don’t care if you back Trump. But stupid son-of-a-bitch, you’re gonna go against our military and back the Russians.”
“I’m a sharpshooter. I could. I’d like to shoot your f—ing head off you stupid mother—er,” said Tarr, who is a U.S. Army veteran.
Davis told the Washington Examiner after the guilty plea was entered on Friday that he hopes Tarr will receive counseling. He also thanked those who helped with the case.
“I am extremely grateful for the work our men and women in law enforcement and the criminal justice system do every day to keep us all safe, including me and my family,” he said in a statement. “After the attempted mass shooting on the baseball field three years ago, my staff and I take all threats seriously and report them to the U.S. Capitol Police. It is my hope that Mr. Tarr gets the counseling he needs.”
Federal authorities became involved after the voicemail was forwarded to the U.S. Capitol Police. Tarr was identified using caller ID and was interviewed by the Rochester Police Department before later being interviewed by the FBI and charged.
Tarr expressed regret for the threatening message during a December interview with the Associated Press.
“I said I had been a sharpshooter in the Army. I didn’t realize I said anything about shooting him. I might have. I don’t even own a weapon,” he said. “I wish I could just take it all back and just say he’s a lousy [expletive] for backing the Russian theory.”
Tarr’s sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 20. The offense carries a maximum penalty of up to a decade in prison.
