Latest news with #lobbyist
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minnesota lobbyist arrested after allegedly sending threatening texts
A longtime Minnesota lobbyist was charged Friday after allegedly making violent threats 'with the purpose to terrorize another' person, according to court documents. Jonathan M. Bohn, 41, is accused of committing 'threats of violence — reckless disregard' after he allegedly sent a series of threatening text messages. The charge, a felony, carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. While the court document, filed in the 1st Judicial District of Carver County, does not include the name of the person to whom Bohn, a lobbyist for 20 years, allegedly sent the texts, it does include samples of several texts threatening in nature. In one message, Bohn allegedly wrote in part, 'Today I bought 500 bullets. I can't wait to shoot one of you motherf-----s in the face.' In another message, he allegedly wrote, 'Excited to have my gun at the Capitol and blow somebody's f-----g face off.' On Friday, a judge in Chaska, Minnesota, set Bohn's bail at $1 million and ordered that he have no contact with the person he allegedly made the threatening comments to. The judge also ordered that Bohn must stay at least a half-mile away from the Capitol complex. Bohn allegedly sent the flurry of threatening texts on Wednesday. Court documents suggest he was allegedly spurred on after seeing a friend post an image of President Donald Trump as a king. It appears the friend changed the image ahead of the June 14 'No Kings Day' march, a protest against Trump, according to NBC affiliate KARE of Minneapolis. Earlier on June 14, state Rep. Melissa Hortman, the former state House speaker, and her husband, Mark Hortman, were shot and killed in their homes. State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also shot in their homes. John Hoffman, who was shot nine times, is in critical but stable condition. Despite Bohn's alleged series of erratic text messages, the person who received them did not respond to Bohn, according to court documents. During a search of Bohn's home, police say they found a gun but no ammunition. As he sat in court on Friday, Bohn wept through the proceedings, according to KARE. He later released a statement from jail. 'Earlier this week, I was grieving the horrific acts of violence committed against my friends and colleagues,' he said. 'In the midst of this immense grief, I sent a series of heated and emotional texts to a friend of nearly thirteen years — someone with whom I've shared countless candid and passionate political conversations. In that moment of anguish, I used language that I deeply regret. The words were spoken from pain, not from intent. I am a hurting person, not a violent one.' He went on to say that he is not a violent person. 'I am profoundly sorry that my words have created a distraction during this time of collective mourning. This moment demands unity, compassion, and reflection — and I am committed to being part of that healing.' As his case moves through the court system, Bohn is on administrative leave from the Inter Faculty Organization (IFO), which represents the needs of seven Minnesota state universities. 'We are monitoring developments closely, cooperating as needed with law enforcement and will continue to keep our members informed,' said IFO President Jenna Chernega in a statement to KARE. Bohn's next court date is Aug. 27. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lobbyist accused of threating shooting at MN Capitol charged with felony
A Minnesota lobbyist accused of sending text messages threatening to shoot people at the state Capitol now faces a felony charge. Jonathan Michael Bohn, 41, of Woodbury, has been charged with threats of violence after allegedly sending a string of 'threatening and disparaging' messages to an acquaintance, the Carver County Attorney's Office announced Friday. Bohn, a lobbyist with the Inter Faculty Organization, a union that represents faculty at Minnesota state universities, said he had bought '500 bullets' and was 'excited to have my gun at the capitol and blow somebody's (expletive) face off,' prosecutors allege. The alleged threats did not mention any specific state lawmaker. A person received the messages while at a restaurant in Waconia on Wednesday, according to the criminal complaint, which leaves the alleged victim unnamed for privacy reasons. They came after a 'falling out with the victim over political differences,' the Carver County Attorney's Office said in a news release on the charges. After learning of the alleged threats, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Bohn's Woodbury home and found an unloaded firearm in a locked case in his garage, according to the complaint. Police questioned took him into custody. Bohn remained in the Carver County Jail in Chaska Friday afternoon. At his bail hearing Friday, Judge Eric Braaten set Bohn's bond at $1 million, ordered no contact with the alleged victim and ordered him to stay at least half a mile away from the Minnesota Capitol. In a statement, the Inter Faculty Organization said it had placed Bohn on administrative leave. 'The Inter Faculty Organization (IFO) condemns political violence and threats of violence in any form,' union president Jenna Chernega said in a statement. 'Such acts are unacceptable and stand in direct opposition to the values that guide our work: civil discourse, mutual respect, and advocacy rooted in integrity.' Rep. Jim Nash, a Waconia Republican, reported the threatening text to law enforcement on Wednesday. Nash notified the House sergeant at arms, State Patrol and Carver County Sheriff's Office of a 'personal text message to a constituent that was threatening in nature,' the Minnesota House GOP Caucus said in a news release. 'The threat was not aimed at any particular lawmaker but the message did include a threat of violence at the Capitol,' House Republicans said. The news release didn't identify the suspect but said authorities questioned and arrested the person on Wednesday. Republicans said the House sergeant at arms is not aware of any further threats to the Legislature or its staff. Sen. John Hoffman, wife say daughter alerted police to politically motivated shootings Lobbyist in custody for 'threat of violence' at Minnesota Capitol UMN hikes tuition 6.5%, makes program cuts at all campuses Julian Scadden: Recent grads can build their futures in the trades Maple Grove lawmaker confirms gunman visited her home Bohn's arrest comes less than a week after a shooting spree that took the lives of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, and her husband, Mark, and injured Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, and his wife, Yvette. The alleged gunman visited the homes of two additional lawmakers that same night and had notebooks naming dozens more targets, federal prosecutors said this week. Lawmakers' home addresses have already been removed from the Minnesota Legislature's website, and the Capitol saw a larger security presence than usual this week. Elected officials have again called for new security measures at the state Capitol, such as entry checkpoints with metal detectors and X-ray machines.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lobbyist in custody for ‘threat of violence' at Minnesota Capitol
Authorities have arrested a Minnesota lobbyist suspected of sending a text message that included a 'threat of violence' at the state Capitol, Minnesota House Republicans said Thursday. Jonathan Michael Bohn, 41, of Woodbury, remained in custody at the Carver County Jail in Chaska Thursday awaiting a court hearing for a pending threats of violence charge, according to Sgt. Chris Nelson with the Carver County Sheriff's Office. Rep. Jim Nash, who reported the threatening text to law enforcement on Wednesday, confirmed Bohn is a lobbyist with the Inter Faculty Organization, a union representing faculty at Minnesota state universities. The organization didn't immediately respond to a phone call late Thursday. Nash notified the House Sergeant at Arms, State Patrol and Carver County Sheriff's Office of a 'personal text message to a constituent that was threatening in nature,' the Minnesota House GOP Caucus said in a news release. 'The threat was not aimed at any particular lawmaker but the message did include a threat of violence at the Capitol,' Republicans said. The news release didn't identify the suspect but said authorities questioned and arrested him on Wednesday. Republicans said the Sergeant at Arms is not aware of any further threats to the Legislature or its staff. Nelson said more details on the case would come in a Friday news release. Check back for updates to this developing story. UMN hikes tuition 6.5%, makes program cuts at all campuses Julian Scadden: Recent grads can build their futures in the trades Maple Grove lawmaker confirms gunman visited her home Letters: Republicans want to deceive the public when it comes to Medicaid State Sen. Sandy Pappas reflects on lawmaker shootings, personal safety
Bloomberg
27-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Trump's CFTC Pick Discloses $3.4 Million in Assets, Crypto Ties
Brian Quintenz, the crypto lobbyist President Donald Trump nominated to serve as chair of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, disclosed assets worth at least $3.4 million and positions in key industry groups. Quintenz, who served as a CFTC commissioner from 2017 to 2021, revealed his financial and professional holdings in paperwork released this week by the Office of Government Ethics. Nominees disclose the value of their holdings in broad ranges.
CBC
17-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Lobbyist registrations at Winnipeg city hall decrease since 2017 launch
The City of Winnipeg launched its lobbyist registry to track who is meeting with council members and staff. But lately, it seems fewer people are choosing to register.
