A federal criminal complaint filed today charges David Aaron Bloyed, 59, of Frost, Texas, with threatening to lynch and kill Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk.
According to the complaint, on July 14, 2024, members of the Goyim Defense League (GDL), an anti-Semitic hate group, were protesting in downtown Nashville when they encountered an employee of a local bar. A confrontation ensued, resulting in the arrest of a GDL member who was charged with aggravated assault for hitting the bar employee repeatedly with a metal flagpole adorned with a swastika flag.
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While in Nashville, GDL members frequently posted about their activities on social media platforms, including Telegram. Following the arrest of the GDL member, a Telegram user associated with GDL posted threatening messages against DA Funk, including a photograph of Funk with the caption, “Getting the rope,” and an emoji pointing to Funk’s image. The posts also featured a photograph of a person hanging from a gallows, with phrases like “The ‘Rope List’ grew by a few more Nashville jews today” and “Will you survive the day of the rope?” Authorities later identified another social media account with a nearly identical username, belonging to Bloyed, containing similar threats.
“In a functioning democracy, we simply cannot tolerate threats of violence against elected officials,” stated United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Henry C. Leventis. “The charges announced today are just the latest illustration of the Department’s commitment to protecting public servants and upholding the rule of law.”
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Resident Agency, Memphis Field Office, and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD).
“While our uniformed officers monitored the group during their presence in July to ensure public safety, our Specialized Investigations Division was also at work,” said MNPD Chief John Drake. “I commend our Security Threat detectives for their diligence in pursuing this case.”
If convicted, Bloyed faces up to five years in federal prison. He is currently in custody in Texas.
Source: Read Original Release
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