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A former primary opponent of U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (R-Friendswood) has been accused by federal authorities of threatening the Houston-area lawmaker’s life, Houston-based media outlets reported.
Citing federal court documents, Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported that Douglas Casey faces a charge of suspicion of threatening to kill a U.S. official.
Casey unsuccessfully attempted to unseat Weber in March’s Texas GOP primary.
KTRK reported that a staffer of Weber’s took a call on March 29 from a constituent who claimed to had heard Casey on a Beaumont radio station say he was waiting on the constituent and the personality on duty to report on a purported “plot.”
The caller informed Weber’s office that Casey supposedly threatened the congressman’s life a number of times, as well as insinuated that he and Gov. Greg Abbott were involved in organized crime, the station reported.
Following his March victory, Weber, a businessman by occupation, went on to easily secure reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives in the November midterms by defeating Democrat Mikal Williams.
Houston Public Media (HPM) reported that the 68-year-old Casey has fielded several failed campaigns against Weber in the last decade.
"We are aware of the situation and appreciate law enforcement's involvement," a spokesperson for the legislator said, per HPM.
Last month, law enforcement responded to an alleged attack on a Texas Republican lawmaker.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) was among the participants in the Houston Astros’ World Series championship parade on Nov. 7 when an attendee threw a hard seltzer at him.
The senator; however, was unharmed, attributing his good fortune to the suspect’s “noodle of an arm.”
Authorities over the summer arrested and charged Florida resident Brett Jeffery Coulter with making threats to U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Richmond).
Citing a KTRK report at the time, Houston Daily reported that data from U.S. Capitol Police indicated a bump in the number of threats against federal lawmakers in both parties as of last year.