Legal Consequences of Threatening a Member of Congress on Social Media

A recent incident involving a New Hampshire college student highlights the legal consequences of making threats against a member of Congress on social media, specifically TikTok. In this case, a 24-year-old student, Allan Poller, has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to a threatening voicemail he left for an unnamed member of Congress.

According to court documents, the incident occurred in the early hours of March 29, when Poller, who is a student at Keene State College, called the Washington, DC office of the unnamed member of Congress. As no one answered the call, Poller left a voicemail, which became the center of the case.

In this voicemail, Poller issued a threat, warning the member of Congress to stop “coming for the gays” and menacingly declared that he would kill the member if they persisted. He stated, “If you keep on coming for the gays, we’re gonna strike back and I guarantee you, you do not want to f**k with us. We will kill you if that’s what it takes. I will take a bullet to your f**king head if you f**k with my rights anymore.”

This threatening voicemail became a matter of concern and was eventually disclosed on the podcast of Rep. Matt Gaetz, who confirmed that he was the target. CNN reached out to Rep. Gaetz’s office for comment on the case.

Allan Poller now faces the legal consequences of his actions. He has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to his threats, and as a result, he may be sentenced to up to five years in prison when his sentencing takes place in January.

In a statement issued by Poller’s attorney, Jesse Friedman, Poller expressed recognition that hate in any form is wrong and hurtful. He accepted responsibility for his actions and emphasized that he did not intend to cause harm or pose a genuine threat to anyone. As part of his plea deal, Poller acknowledged that, even if he did not intend to carry out the threat, he understood that his voicemail would be perceived as such.

This case underscores the seriousness with which threats against public officials are treated, even when made through social media platforms like TikTok. Threats of violence or harm, whether direct or indirect, can lead to legal consequences, as seen in the charges faced by Allan Poller. It serves as a reminder that responsible and respectful communication is paramount in the digital age, especially when addressing matters related to public figures and their work.

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