Ex-Voice of America Employee Arrested and Charged With Threatening Marjorie Taylor Greene
Seth Jason, who previously worked as a studio supervisor and lighting director at the federally funded news agency, was charged with four felonies in the case. Prosecutors accused Mr. Jason of making eight calls — from Oct. 11, 2023, to Jan. 21, 2025 — threatening to kill Ms. Greene, her staff, and their families with 'the use of firearms.'
'The U.S. Capitol Police investigation revealed that the phone calls were made from various phone lines connected to studios and control rooms at Voice of America headquarters, where Jason had worked as a longtime employee,' the Department of Justice said in a statement announcing his arrest.
Federal prosecutors have previously charged people who have made violent threats against Ms. Greene, a hard-right ally of President Trump in Congress who has more recently had public disagreements with the president. In the years before she was elected to Congress, Ms. Greene repeatedly endorsed executing top Democratic politicians on social media.
'Threatening an elected official, their family, or their staff is not free speech,' Ms. Greene said in a statement thanking law enforcement officials for bringing the case. 'It's a crime, and it must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. My family and I are incredibly grateful.'
The department did not describe the threats in detail in its statement, and investigators have not provided additional information in court filings. A lawyer for Mr. Jason declined to comment.
But the nature of the charges against Mr. Jason suggest that prosecutors will portray his actions as politically motivated. The two most serious charges he faces accuse him of making threats as a means to coerce Ms. Greene, either intending to intimidate the congresswoman or to punish her for her official conduct.
Those two charges — influencing a federal official by threatening them and influencing a federal official by threatening the official's family — each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The government accuses Mr. Jason of making most of the threats during the Biden administration, and making a final threatening call on Jan. 21, the second day of President Trump's second term. That was months before Mr. Trump began his sweeping effort to dismantle Voice of America, which once reached millions worldwide but whose operations have now been sharply reduced.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘Gutfeld!' Gangs Up on CBS Reporter for ‘PTSD' Diagnosis From Trump Rally Shooting: ‘Main Character Syndrome'
CBS correspondent Scott MacFarlane said he was 'diagnosed with PTSD in 48 hours' following his experience covering the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally where Donald Trump was nearly assassinated because his supporters turned on members of the press – and the 'Gutfeld!' gang couldn't contain their giggles. MacFarlane, who was onsite for the July 2024 incident, said on Chuck Todd's 'The Chuck Toddcast' that 'for those of us there, it was such horror because you saw an emerging America.' More from TheWrap 'Gutfeld!' Gangs Up on CBS Reporter for 'PTSD' Diagnosis From Trump Rally Shooting: 'Main Character Syndrome' | Video Trump Says He'll Sue Rupert Murdoch, NewsCorp and WSJ 'Shortly,' Orders Release of Epstein Testimony Stephen Colbert Says CBS Told Him of 'Late Show' Cancellation Just Last Night in Emotional Monologue: 'All Just Going Away' | Video Trump Contributed to Suggestive Jeffrey Epstein 50th Birthday Gift, WSJ Reports: 'We Have Certain Things in Common' 'I got put on trauma leave,' MacFarlane said. 'Not because of the shooting but because — you saw it in the eyes. The reaction of the people. They were coming for us. If he didn't jump up with his fist, they were going to come kill us. There is a subset — not everybody — dozens of people in the crowd to start confronting us, saying, 'You did this, this is your fault, you caused this, you killed him.' And they were going to beat us with their hands.' If MacFarlane was looking for sympathy, he wasn't going to find it on the Fox News late-night show. 'It shows you the level of main character syndrome,' said panelist and comedian Joe DeVito. 'That they were at a place, a man died, the guy running for president almost got his head blown off on live TV, and this guy's like, 'What about me? What about what I went through?'' DeVito said had he been there, he would've gotten PTSD, too – from the Secret Service detail. 'All these tiny little chubby ladies,' DeVito said. 'It was the most bizarre — I would have been freaked out by that. I didn't know the Secret Service would have two dozen tiny Melissa McCarthys climbing over to save your life.' Host Greg Gutfeld steered the conversation for a moment to over-labeling of mental conditions. 'This actually — it speaks to something everyone is kind of scared to talk about, which is the overdiagnosis of PTSD,' Gutfeld said. 'It used to be just for people that suffered war trauma or just violent trauma. But now it's like people say, 'I have PTSD, I had a terrible boss. I was at a rally.'' The Free Press editor Will Rahn then chimed in: 'Listen, I'm a little soft on this issue, I'm millennial. I was traumatized on the way here. So I feel for the guy. Listen, people snap, weird things happen. I don't know. Here's the thing. Going on that main character syndrome thing — there's this big reward for emoting, for going on and being like, 'Let me tell you about my feelings',' on Chuck Todd's podcast audience, about how I felt' … and it's like, I'm an editor. A reporter comes to me and is like, 'Let me tell you about my feelings,' and I'm like, 'No, the story is the president got his ear shot off — not how you felt, how people gave you dirty looks.'' Watch the entire exchange in the video above. The post 'Gutfeld!' Gangs Up on CBS Reporter for 'PTSD' Diagnosis From Trump Rally Shooting: 'Main Character Syndrome' | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Gizmodo
21 minutes ago
- Gizmodo
Crypto's Wild West Era Is Over
For more than a decade, cryptocurrency lived in a regulatory gray zone. Loved by libertarians, feared by bankers, and mocked by lawmakers, it was treated like a side project of the internet, too weird to regulate and too volatile to embrace. That era just ended. The U.S. House of Representatives has officially passed the GENIUS Act, a landmark bill that sets federal rules for stablecoins—the digital currencies pegged to the U.S. dollar. The bill is expected to be signed into law by President Donald Trump, making it the first major piece of crypto legislation in American history. It is the moment crypto has been waiting for: real rules, real recognition, and real legitimacy. Stablecoins like USDC and USDT are already used to move billions of dollars every day. They're the quiet workhorses of crypto—used to send money across borders, trade on crypto exchanges, and settle payments instantly without touching a traditional bank. But until now, there were no federal laws clearly defining how they should work, what they must be backed by, or who should regulate them. That uncertainty scared away banks, blocked innovation, and left consumers vulnerable. The GENIUS Act changes that. It requires stablecoin issuers to hold one-to-one reserves in cash or U.S. Treasury bills. It enforces monthly disclosures. It gives consumers priority if an issuer goes bankrupt. It creates a path for both federal and state-level oversight. In short, it gives crypto the kind of legal foundation that big institutions—and average Americans—can finally trust. This law isn't just about taming crypto. It's about launching the next era of American finance. Stablecoins are already powering instant global payments. In the future, they could be integrated into everyday apps—used to pay rent, send money to family, or settle business transactions in seconds. With the GENIUS Act, the U.S. is staking a claim to lead that future. At a time when countries like China are racing to launch their own state-backed digital currencies, this law sends a clear message: America won't be left behind. It also opens the door for crypto to leave the speculative Wild West and move into the financial mainstream. Companies like PayPal, Visa, and BlackRock are already building on blockchain rails. Now, they can do it with a legal framework behind them. For years, crypto has been dismissed as a sideshow. Critics called it a scam, a bubble, or a toy for rich tech bros. There was some truth to the chaos. But behind the scenes, a new financial infrastructure was being built: faster, programmable, and radically transparent. With this new law, that infrastructure gets its first real seal of approval from Washington. It's not just about price anymore. It's about permanence. The GENIUS Act is just the beginning. More legislation is coming, covering digital asset securities, smart contract standards, and decentralized platforms. But this bill proves Congress can act. That alone is a major shift in the political landscape. In the next few years, you may not even realize you're using crypto. It will just be how money moves: instantly, digitally, securely. And legally. Crypto is no longer knocking on the door. It's walking in.
CBS News
22 minutes ago
- CBS News
Aurora driver who was beaten with baseball bat in road rage assault says attackers left him bleeding in street
Police are investigating a brutal road rage assault that left a Colorado father with serious injuries. The incident, which took place last week in Aurora, ended with the man being struck in the head with a baseball bat. "I was heading home when the driver behind me became aggressive," said the victim, who is not being identified for his safety. "I waited to change lanes, but he sped up to block me. When I finally merged, he started tailgating me, pulled up beside me, and began screaming insults and making threatening gestures." The attack happened on July 8. Both cars came to a stop at the intersection of Peoria Street and Alameda Avenue. The victim says he stepped out of his car to take photos to send to the police. Them two men exited the other car while another person remained inside. They surrounded him and began physically assaulting him. "They were trying to knock me down, hitting me with their fists," he said. "I didn't hit them back. But when I didn't go down, one of them went back to the car. A woman inside handed him a baseball bat." He remembers the clanking sound of metal striking his head. "I was still standing. Maybe that scared them," he said. "They ran back to the car and took off." He was left bleeding in the street, surrounded by bystanders who did not intervene during the assault. One woman offered napkins and water and shouted for someone to call 911. At the hospital, he was treated for serious head trauma, given an MRI to rule out internal bleeding, and had multiple bruises to his body. Doctors warned him that if the blow to the head had landed slightly differently, it could have been fatal. "I'm lucky," he said. "If they had used a wooden bat, or hit me near my temple, I might not have survived. My wife could've lost her husband. My son could've lost his father. I don't know who they are, and they're still out there." Aurora police say they are actively investigating the case and searching for the suspects involved. Aurora Police Department Agent Matthew Longshore says the number of road rage incidents is difficult to track, as they're not always reported. "We have seen instances leading up to shootings where road rage is the instigating factor," said Longshore. "Anytime there's a weapon involved, that certainly increases our response and how things might be investigated. Those become more serious, possibly felony-level crimes. We're going to look into the car, the person, and filing charges if applicable." His advice: stay calm, stay in your car and call 911 if you're being followed or feel threatened. "You never know the intentions of the other driver," Longshore said. "Avoid engaging, don't honk or shout back. If someone's following you, drive to a crowded area, a police district, or a fire station. If it's safe, get a license plate or description." If you're able to get a description, it could help APD better locate the car. "We have technology in place that might be able to find the wheel or a sticker or a bumper sticker on the car. Be as descriptive as you can," said Longshore. The victim showed CBS Colorado's Tori Mason droplets of his blood still splattered on his vehicle. Despite fearing for his safety, he's choosing to speak out in hopes his assailants will be caught. "Someone who hits another person in the head with a bat is trying to kill them, not just hurt them." he said. "I think we need to be kind. If you make a mistake, apologize. You don't attack someone. There's no place in society for people like this." If you witnessed the incident near Peoria and Alameda on July 8 around 7 p.m., or recognize any of the individuals involved, call Aurora police at 303-627-3100 or Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867).
