New York Court Employee Arrested After Allegedly Threatening To 'Go Back To The Capitol' To 'Slaughter' Elected Officials

He's facing up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

It’s been two weeks since the attempted coup staged by Trump’s supporters in Washington, D.C., and both lawyers and lawmakers have been identified as members of the mob that broke into the U.S. Capitol. An in-house attorney lost his job, a lawmaker resigned after being charged with a crime, and a solo practitioner has been arrested.

Today, we have news of a legal professional who stands accused of allegedly threatening to kill government officials and suggesting that his followers “go back to the U.S. Capitol when all of the senators and a lot of the representatives are back there” to “slaughter” them.

Meet Brendan Hunt, who works as an assistant court analyst in the New York State Office of Court Administration’s Attorney Registration Unit. Hunt, who goes by “X-Ray Ultra” on YouTube, is the son of retired Queens Family Court Judge John M. Hunt. Hunt was recently arrested after allegedly posting a video on YouTube on January 8 where he made various violent threats.

The New York Law Journal has some additional details:

In the Jan. 8 video, Hunt allegedly suggested that President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration would be “probably the best time to do this,” according to a transcript of the video published in a court filing.

The video was allegedly created after Hunt made violent threats in social media posts in December, according to his arrest warrant. The warrant does not say that Hunt traveled to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6 when a mob stormed the Capitol building.

Hunt has been suspended without pay from his job “pending further administrative action,” and will be detained while he awaits trial.

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“Our democracy depends on the legislators who shoulder the responsibility of government,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Seth DuCharme. “By allegedly threatening to murder and intimidate elected officials, Hunt is striking at the core of our government.” DuCharme said his office would “prosecute offenders like the defendant to the fullest extent of the law.” If convicted, Hunt faces up to 10 years in prison.

NY Court Employee, Son of Retired Judge, Accused of Threat to ‘Go Back to Capitol’ and Kill Government Officials [New York Law Journal]


Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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