Man charged with threatening to kill his congressman
NORFOLK, Va. — A constituent accused of threatening to kill his congressman was arraigned Friday in federal District Court here.
Wallace Grove Godwin, 69, already had two encounters last year with Rep. Scott Taylor, R-Va., and his staff that the U. S. Attorney’s Office in Alexandria, Va., termed aggressive. On Thursday, Godwin visited Taylor’s 2nd District congressional office in Virginia Beach and spoke with a staff member about marijuana policy, according to U. S. Capitol Police affidavit filed Friday in Norfolk.
Godwin is accused of becoming frustrated and angry during the discussion.
«Scott is having an event this Saturday. I am going to get my shotgun and do something about this,» said Godwin, according to the affidavit. «I will just handle this myself.»
► Oct. 24: Teen says he’ll defy cease-and-desist letter from his congressman ► Oct. 6: Report: More than 40 rounds fired to subdue Scalise shooter ► May 21: Racial slurs thrown at lawmaker who called for Trump impeachment
Godwin then allegedly pointed at two staffers in the room and stated, «You two are next.»
Taylor, a former Navy SEAL who is serving his first term in Congress, was not present. Taylor’s 2nd Congressional District includes Virginia Beach and part of Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
Godwin has been charged with threatening to murder and assault a U. S. official and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
«I want to be as clear as I can be: Threats of violence against elected officials and their staff can NEVER, EVER be tolerated,» Taylor said Friday in a prepared statement. «The tone of our discourse has come to unacceptable and dangerous levels.
«I call on everyone, and I mean everyone, to please calm down,» he said. «We are all Americans. There is so much that unites us.
Sometime in 2017, Godwin showed up at Taylor’s home, blocked the congressman’s vehicle with his own and waited for Taylor to come outside so he could speak to Taylor about marijuana policy. Taylor told Godwin to leave, and Godwin did, according to the affidavit.
On March 8,2017, Godwin first appeared at Taylor’s Virginia Beach office, leaning over the reception desk, yelling and frightening staff enough that they reported the incident to U. S. Capitol Police.
His next court appearance is scheduled to be a Tuesday preliminary hearing.
Follow WVEC-TV on Twitter: @13NewsNow
