Expatriate pleads guilty to threatening Tillis and staff
WILMINGTON — An American citizen living in Thailand pleaded guilty Wednesday to threatening to kill U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis and his staff.
Eric Charles Welton, 53, pleaded guilty to one count of threatening a federal official on account of his duties, according to a release.
Welton made multiple harassing and intimidating calls to the offices of Republican elected officials and GOP organizations in the U.S. Welton said he made the threatening calls because he was angry about the large number of unsolicited political emails he received.
In September 2021, Welton spoke with a staff member at the senator's Raleigh office and threatened to show up and 'put a bullet through each of [their] heads.' Welton also threatened to come to North Carolina and 'mow…down' the 'whole [expletive] state,' and find the person who emailed him and cut off his hands.
'Threatening to kill a public official and his staff is not only despicable, but also an affront to our democratic system of government,' said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar for the Eastern District of North Carolina. 'Our office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute threats or intimidation against public officials so they can properly carry out their important duties.'
'It is unacceptable to make violent threats against anyone. But when threats are directed at elected officials, it can impact their ability to effectively serve their constituents and their country,' said Special Agent in Charge Robert M. DeWitt of the FBI Charlotte Field Office. 'The FBI will not tolerate this type of intimidation for any reason especially when it comes to those who help run our democracy.'
Welton faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced in July.
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