Joseph Morelli Sentenced for Threatening GOP: Joseph Morelli, a 51-year-old New York resident, received a three-month jail term for threatening phone calls to GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. Morelli was convicted in a federal court in Syracuse, NY, for threatening phone calls to Greene’s office in Washington, D.C., on March 3-4, 2022.
The threats worsened rapidly. I’ll take control. I’ll hurt you. In another message, Morelli threatened to pay “$500 to crack your skull with a baseball bat.” After the threats, Morelli was charged with three counts of sending dangerous messages across state lines and indicted within a month.
Rep. Greene requested that Morelli reimburse her for the $66,632 spent on additional security measures, including installing over 1,200 feet of fencing and upgrading security cameras at her Georgia residence due to the threats she received. Judge Sannes hasn’t decided on repayment yet.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Southwick said Morelli’s threats were serious. While there was no evidence of Morelli purchasing a gun or car for a potential trip to Georgia to carry out his threats, Southwick noted it was still possible. Southwick proved Morelli’s aggression by citing his past threats, including one to Judge Joseph J. Cassata. Southwick believes jailing Morelli would deter future threats.
Gabrielle DiBella, Morelli’s defense lawyer, had a different perspective. She said Morelli’s threats were due to his bipolar disease, and he’s seeking help for his mental health issues. DiBella emphasized Morelli’s declining health when the threats occurred. She said he did what he did partly because of videos of Greene that he believed spread hate.
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Greene spoke with a Parkland shooting survivor in one film and appeared in an ad supporting gun giveaways and the removal of President Joe Biden in another. After watching a 2022 video where Greene hinted at destroying the “Democrat socialist agenda” by blowing up a car labeled “socialism,” Morelli, a Social Security recipient, grew concerned about his benefits.
DiBella worried about Morelli’s fate if he went to jail. He mentioned the risk of losing Social Security benefits and his home, potentially leaving him homeless upon release.
Judge Sannes acknowledged Morelli’s mental health issues but couldn’t disregard the stress and fear caused to Greene and her family by the threats. Despite no evidence of Morelli’s intent to harm, the judge considered it when determining the sentence.
The case highlights the challenge of judges understanding mental health and ensuring public figure safety. The threats and legal moves underscore the intense and heated politics in the U.S., where lawmakers face serious threats.