Mississippi News
Man charged with sending death threats to Rep. Bennie Thompson and Biden
Man charged with sending death threats to Rep. Bennie Thompson and Biden
A Pennsylvania man is facing federal charges for allegedly sending a death threat to U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the chair of the House Jan. 6 Committee that is investigating efforts to overthrow the results of the November 2020 presidential election.
Thompson, who represents Mississippi's 2nd congressional district, reported just before the last round of public hearings by the Jan. 6 Committee that his Washington, D.C., office had received a suspicious item in the mail.
Robert Maverick Vargo, who is 25 years old, was also charged with threatening President Joe Biden, according to Axios and other national media outlets. Vargo faces charges of threatening the President of the United States, interstate communications with a threat and influencing a federal official by threat.
The letter to Thompson contained a white power, but it was determined not to be dangerous.
The letter, according to Axios, referenced Thompson's leadership of the Jan. 6 Committee that recently subpoenaed former President Donald Trump over efforts to throw out millions of votes and overturn the results of the election. The Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol was part of that effort.
The letter to Thompson read, in part, according to Axios: “Im going to kill you! I will make you feel the rest of our pain & suffering. There is nowhere or nobody who can keep you from me. I am going to kill you & those you love. I promise you that I will keep my promise until the day of my death. … You & Joe Biden soon will face death for the wrongs you've done to US.”
Thompson has been vocal in his belief that the committee he chairs is important to preserving the right to vote for all American citizens.
“I want, as an African American, to be able to say to the world that I helped stabilize our government when insurrectionists tried to take over,” Thompson told CNN in the summer before the hearings began.
READ MORE: ‘An attempted coup': Rep. Bennie Thompson tells the world what happened on Jan. 6, 2021
Thompson — the dean of the Mississippi congressional delegation and indeed someone who has worked to avoid the limelight — has built his long political career on protecting democracy.
As a young adult in the 1960s, he worked to register African Americans to vote and to ensure votes were counted. Now leading the Jan. 6 Commission, he is effectively doing similar work: ensuring that legally cast votes are counted and that the nation's representative democracy is protected from any future efforts to overturn the results of an election.
Thompson was selected to chair the special Jan. 6 Committee because of his leadership of the House's Homeland Security Committee.
READ MORE: Rep. Bennie Thompson's Mississippi colleagues have no comment on his Jan. 6 hearings
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
WPPD needs help locating ATV purchased with fraudulent means
SUMMARY: The West Point Police Department is seeking help from the community to locate a black 2024 Can-Am ATV that was purchased fraudulently from Adventure ATV. The whereabouts of this ATV are unknown, and anyone with information is urged to contact the West Point Police Department at (662)494-1244. The individuals in the photos provided are not considered suspects in the investigation. For more news and updates, follow the West Point Police Department on Facebook.
The post WPPD needs help locating ATV purchased with fraudulent means appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
28th annual Market Street Festival underway in Columbus
SUMMARY: The Market Street Festival in Columbus, Mississippi featured vendors selling a variety of products, from pottery to jewelry. Attendees expressed their love for the event, citing the opportunity to see unique items and connect with friends. The festival also showcased the work of local artists, such as Rose Harrison who specializes in acrylic painting and abstract artwork. Overall, the festival was described as a fun and vibrant place to be, with something for everyone to enjoy. This year marked the 28th annual Market Street Festival, demonstrating its popularity and success in bringing the community together.
The post 28th annual Market Street Festival underway in Columbus appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Starkville Derby helps fundraise for local humane society
SUMMARY: The world's largest wiener dog race, the Starkville Derby, has become a popular event in Starkville, Mississippi. The event was born out of the need for a spring event in the town and has seen larger crowds each year. In addition to being a race, the event also raises money for the Oktibbeha County Humane Society, with fundraising being essential to the care of the over 5,000 animals that come through the shelter each year. The success of the derby has greatly helped the Humane Society in raising funds to support their operations and care for the animals.
The post Starkville Derby helps fundraise for local humane society appeared first on www.wcbi.com
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