
A man from Texas who sent multiple death threats to California Democratic Representative Maxine Waters will spend almost three years behind bars, following his sentencing that was held Monday.
Houston resident Brian Michael Gaherty received a sentence of 33 months in federal prison for making several phone calls in 2022 during which he threatened that he’d kill Waters.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California issued a press release Monday saying that Gaherty was also levied with a fine of $10,000.
He was indicted by a federal grand jury in April of 2023 over threatening calls that he made to the Democratic congresswoman the year before that.
A press release that was sent out that month said that Gaherty was being charged with making threats in interstate communications (four counts) as well as threatening a U.S. official (four counts).
In a recent statement, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada commented:
“Threats to harm or kill elected officials are anathema to our nation’s values and must not — and will not — be tolerated. My office and the entire Department of Justice will continue to combat threats against public officials and other attempts to chill democracy.”
Gaherty pleaded guilty, according to the press release. He “admitted” he made threats of “assault and murder” to Waters four different times between August 2022 and November 2022.
He further said that, when he made those calls, he did so with the intent to interfere, intimidate or impede Waters as she was “engaged in” doing the duties that are assigned to her as a member of Congress.
The press release said that Gaherty left Waters’ office a voicemail in August of that year, threatening to “put a cap” between her eyes, “stomp” her and “cut [her] throat.”
He also told the congresswoman that she “better move” because “he and his boys ‘in the area’ had a ‘contract’ on her life.”
Law enforcement officials apparently reached out to Gaherty, according to the press release, and “warned him to disengage.” However, he reportedly continued to leave threatening voicemails for Waters.
As the press release points out:
“Authorities contacted Gaherty and warned him to disengage in October 2022, but a few weeks later, he persisted with his violent threats. In November 2022, Gaherty left Waters two additional voicemails, informing Waters that she ‘done [expletive] up’ by reporting his threats to law enforcement, and stated, ‘This ain’t no threat. It’s a … promise.’
“He also threatened to meet Waters ‘on the street’ and ‘get in [her] face,’ and again told her that he and his ‘crowd,’ had a contract to ‘take [her] … out.’ Finally, he warned, ‘You better watch your back.’”
The voicemails were apparently racist in nature. Waters, who is 85 years old, is the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
She appeared in court on Monday for Gaherty’s sentencing, speaking up in court and telling the judge that the man’s threats led to her having nightmares.
Waters said in court:
“I’m fearful. I’m afraid to be approached by strangers.”