William Robert Braddock III, a former congressional candidate in Florida, has been indicted for allegedly threatening to kill his political rival, U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, during the 2021 Republican primary. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the charges, which could result in a five-year prison sentence if Braddock is found guilty.
Although Luna is not explicitly named in the prosecutor’s statement, she had previously sought a protection order against Braddock. The charges stem from an incident on June 8, 2021, when Braddock allegedly threatened Luna and an associate during a phone conversation. According to prosecutors, Braddock claimed he would enlist a “Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” to make Luna “disappear.”
Following the alleged threats, Braddock reportedly fled to the Philippines. He was subsequently arrested and deported back to the United States. Luna and Braddock were both vying for Florida’s 13th Congressional District seat, which was vacated by then-U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist. Luna emerged victorious in both the primary and general elections.
In June 2021, Luna sought an injunction against Braddock, alleging that he had made threatening calls and stalked her. In her petition, Luna expressed fear for her life, stating, “I do not feel safe and I am currently in fear for my life from Mr. Braddock.”
Luna declined to comment on the indictment. However, a spokesperson issued a statement highlighting the broader issue of violence and harassment against female politicians. The spokesperson noted that female members of Congress are disproportionately targeted for stalking, violence, and harassment compared to their male counterparts, calling it an “alarming trend.”
Braddock is charged with interstate transmission of a true threat to injure another person. His case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force initiative, which seeks to address threats of violence against individuals in the political arena, including elected officials and election workers.