NYC Man Who Posted Online Death Threats Against Biden Supporters Pleads Not Guilty to Federal Charges
Last Wednesday, a New York City man pleaded not guilty in a U.S. District Court on federal charges brought against him for threatening Biden supporters during the U.S. Presidential election. The indictment also lists the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Brian Maiorana is a 54-year-old man who was arrested in his Staten Island home on November 10th. According to prosecutors, Maiorana is also a registered sex offender. His arrest came after alleged social media posts that included threatening messages to kill and ordering others on social media to kill protesters, politicians, Democrats, and members of law enforcement.
When Maiorana’s home was raided with a search warrant after his arrest, officers found a semi-automatic firearm and ammunition. Upon his arrest, his federal public defender, James Darrow, did not provide any comments on the charges or seek bail for Maiorana.
On November 8th, two days before his arrest, Maiorana expressed his frustration toward Democrats, specifically Biden supporters online. His frustrations soon turned into what prosecutors call violent threats that went beyond political hyperbole. In response to Biden's projected victory, Maiorana took to social media where he said about Biden supporters, “all right thinking people need to hit the streets while these scumbags are celebrating and start blowing them away.”
Other posts on his social media called for extreme threats of violence, including the “extermination of anyone that claims to be a Democrat.” Maiorana goes on to express his viewpoint that so many other Americans share regarding the election stating that a Trump victory had been fraudulently stolen.
Additionally, Maiorana also made references to blowing up an FBI building. The Senate minority leader, Senator Chuck Schumer, was also a target of Maiorana's threats as Maiorana referred to him as “the Jews senator from New York.”
Another subject of Maiorana's charges is the reference he made to The Turner Diaries, a 1978 novel with themes of violent revolutions toward governments. The novel perpetuates a race war that aims at getting rid of anyone who's not white. The novel has been one of controversy for several years as it was deemed the inspirational text behind the Oklahoma City bombing.
That bombing, which took place in 1995, was orchestrated by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols and killed at least 168 people, many of whom were children, as well as injured 680 others. Allegedly, Maiorana shared on social media that "The Turner Diaries must come to life,” referring to the violence against the government the novel preaches.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge, William F. Sweeney shared the following statement in the indictment: “Mr. Maiorana’s online posts called for violence against our entire community—protestors, politicians, and law enforcement officers alike. His alleged threats are disturbing and far outside of acceptable norms, but they also violated federal law. A word of advice to those who haven’t yet figured this out—the FBI will carry out our mission to protect the public’s safety and our constitutional right to disagree with one another, but we will not tolerate threats and acts of violence. Any others who wish to follow the example set by Mr. Maiorana will be held accountable in the same way.”
Maiorana Questionable Past
In 2007, Maiorana was convicted of a statutory sexual assault and has since been a registered sex offender in New York. Because of his felony conviction, Maiorana is not allowed to be in possession of any weapons or ammunition. However, according to news reports of his arrest and indictment records, Maiorana’s financial records showed that he purchased several gun parts for a semi-automatic handgun.
It is not clear if these parts were purchased for the same semi-automatic that was found in his home on November 10th. In addition to the handgun, documents show that Maiorana also purchased a crossbow in 2018, as well as combat boots and military patches.
A Tumultuous Election
Death threats toward political figures and those who support certain political figures have not been novel incidents this election season. With the high tension of the 2020 presidential election, death threats popped up throughout the nation.
Another notable incident of political violence during this election came during the same time frame of Maiorana’s arrest. An alleged militia kidnapping plot against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was unraveled after fourteen men connected to the plot were arrested.
In addition to kidnapping the Michigan governor, other governors, including democratic Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, were on the list to be kidnapped. The 14 men connected to the high-profile kidnapping plot targeted a range of executive government officials with plans to storm Capitol buildings, bomb them, and execute their abductees.
