Walter Abbott, of Parkville, called Gov. Martin O?Malley an “American sellout” and threatened to “choke the life out” of the governor over his immigration policy.
Hours later, state police came to his home and hauled the 44-year-old construction worker off to jail. He was charged with writing and sending an e-mail threat to a public official.
Now he is on home detention, awaiting a court date.
If convicted, he faces a six-year prison sentence and up to $5,000 in fines.
The Examiner interviewed Abbott about what drove him over the edge.
Why did you threaten Gov. O?Malley?s life?
I wantedto talk to O?Malley and see if he could become a hero of the people.
I wrote in my letter that instead of giving $1 million to CASA de Maryland, why not give me $1 million to create an American day-labor center, so I can train people to find jobs.
I don?t want to see kids go through 17 years of hard times like I did.
They should have a big house and a good company … instead of seeing more and more homeless people.
I?m sure he didn?t read the six-page letter I sent.
How did you threaten the governor?
I said [in the letter], “If I ever got close enough, I?d wrap my hands around your throat and choke the life out of you, you piece of s— American sellout.”
I am sorry for writing that.
I am not a violent person at all.
I would throw myself in front of a bullet for him if he were for the American people.
When the police came, they said they?re weren?t going to arrest me but wanted to investigate why I sent the letter.
They kept going outside to take phone calls.
Then they said they had to take me in.
I cooperated, even turned in my gun when they asked.
It seemed like a lot of work for just one person.
What got you motivated to contact officials such as O?Malley?
Last February, I see [U.S. Sen.] Ben Cardin on the news wondering why it was OK for President Bush to give away jobs.
I thought, there?s a good man to call, so I started looking into this.
I tried calling [Baltimore City Mayor] Shelia Dixon?s office.
I?d like to see some work programs for guys getting out of jail. Because they did something wrong, they can?t get a job, and all they?re left with is crime.
I made it out of the city.
We went to Annapolis to testify [on a bill that would allow people to file complaints against legislators believed to have violated immigration laws].
I told them, “You will not get another tax dollar from me until you straighten this problem out.”
They could care less, and that frustrated me so bad.
But many people have said illegal immigrants do the jobs that Americans don?t want to do.
I come from a long line of blue-collar workers.
That?s how America was built.
My father operated a coal company that delivered coal to houses in Baltimore.
I?m a construction worker.
I used to dig ditches by shovel.
I worked my way up.
When I finish a job, I stand back and look at it with accomplishment.
It?s what I do. It?s a job.
What in your experiences has led you to believe illegal immigrants are a problem?
During the early 1990s, I opened up a drywall company.
My business partner and I were good at our job.
We went to White Marsh, where they were putting up houses.
All the guys there were Hispanic.
But they were getting only $2 a piece [of drywall], while guys like me get between $5 and $8 a piece.
If they were working for the same money, it would be a different story.
If you?re going to work these guys, pay them American money.
That?s what wrecks the economy, when you do stuff like that.
Things got so bad that my wife and I had to sell our house at the time.
Even now, we?re having a hard time making our bills, because the calls for work are getting few and far between.
I?m going to have to sell my Chrysler to pay my attorney bill.
We?re currently in a housing slump. Does that have anything to do with your inability to find work?
I go into new developments, but they?re not hiring.
I think from the illegal workers not paying taxes and the construction companies not paying taxes is why we?re seeing the slumping housing market.
Why don?t you just lower your prices or find another job?
When I got arrested, the psychologist asked me that.
I said I would be selling out my fellow Americans.
Are you prejudiced against Hispanics?
I have no problem with them.
It?s our government that?s doing this to us.
I am not a racist person.
But there are thousands of immigrants in the country. Should we support them?
No.
We have unemployment here for the American people.
If we continue to get all of those people here, we would be the Third World country, a poverty-stricken country.
