Man charged with threats on U.S. senator

YAKIMA, Wash., April 6 (UPI) -- A Yakima-area man is charged with allegedly threatening Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., in the heated run-up to the vote on healthcare reform, prosecutors said.

Charles Wilson, 64, of Selah, Wa., was arrested Tuesday at his home on charges of threatening a federal official for angry phone calls he allegedly made to Murray's office.

The U.S. Attorney's office in Seattle said in a written statement that Wilson allegedly said in the calls he wanted to kill Murray and that she "had a target on her back."

"The threats here crossed the line, and violate the law," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg.

The statement said Wilson allegedly made the calls between March 22 and April 4 on a "blocked" telephone line that the FBI traced to Wilson's home. Wilson also allegedly told an undercover agent that he was furious about the passage of the Health Care Reform Act and also had a concealed weapon permit and regularly carried a gun.

The statement did not indicate Wilson took any steps to carry out his alleged threat.

Wilson had an initial appearance before a federal judge in Yakima Tuesday and was to be transferred to Seattle at a later date, the statement said.