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A Delaware County man, Richard Franklin, 65, has been charged with making terroristic threats and ethnic intimidation after allegedly threatening to set fire to the residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. According to Pennsylvania State Police, Franklin made the threat while visiting the office of State Representative Leanne Krueger in Brookhaven earlier this week.
During the incident, Franklin reportedly used an antisemitic slur, referring to Governor Shapiro in a derogatory manner. The confrontation arose over an unpaid tax bill of $19, which Franklin disputed at the representative's office. When a staff member attempted to assist him, Franklin became irate, crumpling the paperwork and making threatening statements.
Franklin's arrest comes nearly 15 months after a separate incident where a man threw Molotov cocktails into the Governor's Residence while Shapiro and his family were asleep. The previous perpetrator, Cody Balmer, was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison for attempted murder.
The Pennsylvania State Police's newly established Political Violence Threat Unit, created to address growing threats against public officials, conducted the investigation. Franklin was taken into custody without incident and is currently held at Delaware County Prison with bail set at $100,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday (July 16).
Franklin's brother, Leroy Franklin, disputes the charges, claiming his brother did not make any threats or use antisemitic language. The state police, however, maintain that Franklin admitted to using a slur and referencing the previous arson attempt.
Governor Shapiro, a prominent Jewish official, has faced multiple threats since taking office. His administration has not commented on the recent incident, referring inquiries to the state police.