(LANSING, Mich.) - Federal prosecutors have charged a Hawaii man with making threats against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan State Capitol.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, 48-year-old Ronald Saville of Honolulu was charged in a criminal complaint filed June 1 with transmitting interstate communications containing threats.
Prosecutors allege Saville sent an email to the Michigan State Police on May 9 threatening to enter the Michigan Capitol with a firearm and open fire. Authorities say he later sent a second email to Whitmer threatening a mass shooting at the State Capitol and threatening the governor.
Court records indicate Saville called the FBI on May 12 and allegedly told an agent he wanted to kill Whitmer because of her political affiliation. Prosecutors say he also admitted researching a trip to Michigan and indicated he still intended to carry out the threat.
Federal officials said Saville was arrested in Abilene, Texas, on June 1.
According to prosecutors, Saville has two prior federal convictions in Hawaii involving threats against former President George W. Bush and former federal judge Susan Oki Mollway.
If convicted, Saville faces up to five years in prison on each count, along with possible fines and supervised release. The FBI is investigating the case.