A Texas man was arrested after making a threatening phone call to a Boston doctor who treats transgender children, prosecutors say

• Prosecutors say a man made a death threat to a Boston doctor who treats transgender patients.
• Matthew Lindner, 38, was arrested after allegedly leaving the expletive-laced voicemail in August.

Federal prosecutors say a Texas man has been arrested after making a threatening phone call to a Boston doctor who treats transgender patients.

The threat from 38-year-old Matthew J. Lindner of Comfort, Texas, came in August amid a slew of misinformation about medical treatment for transgender patients at Boston Children's Hospital went viral, prosecutors said. The hospital received harassment and a bomb threat, Insider previously reported.

Prosecutors said Lindner left a threatening voicemail for a doctor at Boston's National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center on August 31, according to a statement from the US Attorney's Office of the District of Massachusetts.

Prosecutors alleged Lindner's voicemail message said, "You sick motherf-----s, you're all gonna burn. There's a group of people on their way to handle [victim]. You signed your own warrant, [victim]. Castrating our children. You've woken up enough people. And upset enough of us. And you signed your own ticket. Sleep well, you f------, c---."

Lindner was arrested on Saturday and charged with a count of transmitting interstate threats, according to the statement. US Attorney Rachael Rollins said in the statement that Lindner's speech was not protected under free speech as it meant to "instill fear and terror" in its audience.

"Mr. Lindner's alleged conduct — a death threat — is based on falsehoods and amounts to an act of workplace violence. The victim, a Doctor caring for gender nonconforming and transgendered patients, should be able to engage in this meaningful and necessary work without fear of physical harm or death," Rollins said. "And although the Doctor is clearly a victim, Mr. Lindner's threat is rooted in a hatred of the LGBTQIA+ community and the families, friends and people that love and support them. They are victims too."

According to the US attorney's office, a conviction for transmitting interstate threats carries a prison sentence of up to five years, along with up to three years of supervised release and a $250,000 maximum fine.

"While everyone has a right to express their opinion, they don't have a right to use or threaten violence against individuals who do not share their same set of beliefs," Joseph Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI's Boston Division, said in the statement. "No one should have to live in fear of violence because of who they are, what kind of work they do, where they are from, or what they believe."