Nick Gates, a 37-year-old Houston, Texas man, was accused by authorities of threatening to kidnap, murder and burn Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and his father, MySanAntonio reported Tuesday. The man also allegedly threatened to “blow up” the sun if he wasn’t paid $3 million.
Gates, MySanAntonio said, was being held in the Harris County Jail on a $10,000 bond and has been charged with making a terroristic threat.
According to the Houston Chronicle, an intern at the senator’s Austin office said a man identifying himself as Abolfazi Akbori called earlier this month saying Cruz “owed him money or a bomb would explode.” The report said the same man called after the office had closed, leaving a threatening message on the office’s voicemail system.
Another message left at Cruz’s San Antonio office said the caller “would kidnap, murder, and burn Ted Cruz and his father,” according to the arrest warrant.
“Ted has a choice. Give me three million dollars or lose the sun,” the message reportedly said.
The caller said that “due to government misconduct the sun would blow up and said he might be able to prevent the sun from blowing up if he receives three million dollars,” the warrant alleges.
Staffers were given a photograph of Gates in the event he attempted to retaliate, The Blaze reported.
According to authorities, Gates admitted making the calls from his apartment, and said he had previously been hospitalized at the Harris County Mental Health Center.
Gates reportedly has a history of such behavior, and has a prior felony conviction for attempted retaliation after he threatened the life of a Houston police officer and his child after the officer arrested him for drunk driving. Gates was also convicted of the drunk driving charge.
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