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Michigan man is facing multiple terrorism-related charges after police accused him of calling in a fake bomb threat to the state Capitol nearly a month after he was previously accused of threatening to kill a state lawmaker. - But the lawmaker, Rep. Cynthia Johnson of Detroit, told the Detroit Free Press she wanted an investigation as to why the man wasn't arrested for more than three weeks after he threatened to kill her and her family.
- "The guy is white; I am Black," Johnson told the Detroit Free Press. "If I was a white woman I think this would be handled a little differently."
A Michigan man is facing several terrorism-related charges after officials accused him of calling in a fictitious bomb threat to the state Capitol, but his arrest last week came nearly a month after he was first accused of threatening to kill a state lawmaker, prompting concerns about law enforcement's response.
Michael Chad Varrone, 48, was arrested on Thursday and accused of calling in a bomb threat to the Michigan State Capitol that morning. Varrone was arraigned Friday in a Michigan court and charged with multiple terrorism-related charges, including two counts of making a false report or threat of terrorism and one count of making a false report or threat of a bomb, according to court documents.
One of the charges was related to his threat against Johnson in December. The terrorism charges carry sentences of up to 20 years in prison, and the bomb threat could carry a sentence of up to four years, according to an affidavit.
But the Detroit Free Press noted Varrone's arrest came more than three weeks after he was first accused of calling the office of state lawmaker Republican Rep. Thomas Albert and threatening the life of Democratic Rep. Cynthia Johnson, who is Black.
On a December 12 voicemail left for Albert's office, Varrone, who identified himself and spelled his name on the message, threatened to kill Johnson and her family.
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"If there is one more threat by a Democratic person in Michigan that's supposed to represent me, I will personally come down there and take over that goddamn building at the Capitol," Varrone is accused of saying, according to an affidavit. "If I'm threatened by another senator or anybody like Cynthia Johnson, I'll personally take care of that m----------- and their whole f------ family, there'll be no Johnsons left in Michigan."
The Michigan State Police told the Free Press House sergeants had handled the December 12 incident, but a spokesperson for the Michigan House Speaker told the outlet the call had been referred to the MSP because House sergeants only handle "immediate threats" on Capitol grounds, according to the report.
A representative of the MSP did not immediately return Insider's request for comment Sunday.
In an interview with the Free Press, Johnson called for an investigation into how law enforcement handled the threat against her life.
"The guy is white; I am Black," Johnson told the outlet. "If I was a white woman I think this would be handled a little differently."
Varrone's arrest came just one day following the deadly insurrection at the US Capitol, where supporters of President
The incident also follows a turbulent time for Michigan's government.
Last year, in protest of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19, demonstrators, some carrying weapons, stormed the state capitol while the legislature was in session. Also last year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced it had foiled a plot by a militia group to kidnap Whitmer, a Democrat, and overthrow the state government.