California man charged with making threats against family of congressman and a journalist - NBC News

A California man was arrested Tuesday after federal authorities said he sent threatening text messages to family members of a New York City congressman and journalist.

6 text to a family member of an unidentified journalist, saying that person's "words are putting you and your family at risk," according to a federal criminal complaint out of New York City.

"We are nearby armed and ready," the suspect allegedly said in one text described in the document.

We are armed and nearby your house," he allegedly said in the text"

The suspect believed disinformation that President Joe Biden did not win November's election, authorities said.

In the text to the lawmaker's brother, authorities said Lemke wrote: “your words have consequences.

The Office of the Federal Public Defender was not immediately retained to defend hm, a supervisor with the agency's San Francisco office said.

Shortly after the election, authorities said Lemke wrote on Facebook: "Folks.

However, the Air Force had no record of a Robert Lemke matching his description ever having served, the Pentagon said Tuesday afternoon.

The FBI contacted the Alameda County Sheriff's Office earlier this month about Lemke and agents were told no one of that name had ever been employed by the department, Sgt.