Nessel Targeted in Plot to Kill Jewish Elected Officials in Michigan

DETROIT—A man has been charged with using Twitter to threaten to kill Michigan state government officials who are Jewish—including Attorney General Dana Nessel, she wrote on Twitter on Thursday.

No names were listed in a formal criminal complaint unsealed against Jack Carpenter III, of Tipton. But according to Nessel, the FBI has confirmed that she was a target in his alleged anti-semitic scheme.

“It is my sincere hope that the federal authorities take this offense just as seriously as my Hate Crimes & Domestic Terorism Unit takes plots to murder elected officials,” Nessel posted to Twitter on Thursday.

The FBI said Carpenter was in Texas when he tweeted on Feb. 17 that he was returning to Michigan “to carry out the punishment of death to anyone” who is Jewish in Michigan government “if they don’t leave, or confess, and now that kind of problem.”

Carpenter also declared a new country—”New Israel”—around his home, according to the criminal complaint. He was arrested in Texas on Feb. 21 and appeared in federal court in Detroit on Wednesday on a charge of using interstate communications to make a threat. Carpenter will remain in custody until a detention hearing on Friday. Prosecutors want to keep him locked up while the case proceeds.

“When the defendant was arrested in his vehicle, they found approximately a half dozen firearms and ammunition,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Hank Moon, who said he thinks Carpenter will flee if released.

Carpenter asked for a court-appointed lawyer, but otherwise said little during the court appearance. A message seeking comment from the federal public defender office was not immediately returned.

Those who are a victim of a hate crime or have credible information about a hate crime can contact Michigan Attorney General’s office at 313-456-0180.

‘Gander Political Correspondent Kyle Kaminski contributed to this report.