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Las Vegas man accused of making antisemitic threats against Jewish US senator Jacky Rosen

John Miller faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted

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GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 06: United States Senator for Nevada, Jacky Rosen speaks at an Atlantic Council event on day seven of the COP26 at SECC on November 06, 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. Today COP26 will focus on ensuring the importance of nature and sustainable land use are part of global action on climate change and a clean, green recovery. The 2021 climate summit in Glasgow is the 26th "Conference of the Parties" and represents a gathering of all the countries signed on to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Climate Agreement. The aim of this year's conference is to commit countries to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

A Las Vegas man has been indicted after allegedly making antisemitic threats against Jewish US Senator Jacky Rosen.

Rosen, a Democrat from Nevada, has maintained a vocal pro-Israel stance, including support for US aid to Israel.

John Miller, 43, is charged with one count of threatening a federal official and two counts of influencing, impeding or retaliating against a federal official by threatening a family member.

Rosen's office has confirmed the allegation that she and her family were targeted.

According to the criminal indictment, Miller allegedly made several threatening calls and voicemails containing antisemitic slurs to Rosen last month. Some of these threats made reference to the Israel-Hamas war and the Holocaust.

Miller also went to a federal courthouse in Las Vegas on the morning of 18 October to see the Democratic senator but was turned away after refusing to provide identification, according to the indictment. 

Miller then became agitated and began shouting threats against Israelis outside the courthouse, it added. He was arrested a week later.

The 43-year-old is also accused of threatening the family of another unnamed US senator, according to the indictment.

Asked for comment, Rosen's office referred to its statement issued late last month after the suspect's arrest.

"Threats against public officials should be taken seriously," a spokesperson said at the time. "Senator Rosen trusts the US Attorney's office and federal law enforcement to handle this matter."

Miller's trial is scheduled for January. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Rosen visited Israel as part of a bipartisan Senate delegation just days after the Hamas atrocities in October. Speaking after the visit, she said: “Israeli government officials told us what they need to defend their citizens and defeat Iran-backed Hamas, and I’m committed now more than ever to pass an aid package that gets them these resources.

“I’ll never forget this visit, and the conversations I had with the families of hostages taken by terrorists will stay with me for the rest of my life.

“As the only Jewish mother serving in the Senate, hearing their stories, and seeing their pain and heartbreak was gut-wrenching.

“I’m bringing one central message to my Senate colleagues: This is the time to take decisive action to help Israel. We cannot allow partisan politics to get in the way.”

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