Federal authorities - namely the FBI - arrested Michael Thomas last week after he was accused of sending threatening letters to Gov. LePage as well as The Maine Senators and Gov. Walker.
Morning Sentinel
A Portland man charged with sending threatening letters to Gov. Paul LePage admitted to agents that he sent those and other threatening letters to national political figures, including Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, according to testimony Wednesday in U.S. District Court....
LePage received three letters attributed to Thomas, saying among other things that the author was willing to sacrifice his life to shoot the governor. Thomas told agents on Friday that he would follow through on the threats if he had the means, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Neumann.
Expect some right wing media play on this though the article seems to be relatively clear that Mr. Thomas has a history of both threatening action and mental illness - at least that's what's being argued by his lawyer. Additionally, it should be pointed out that although Mr. Thomas has threatened individuals and politicians in the past, again according to reporting, he does not have any history of violent episodes or actions.
Mr. Thomas is apparently a very ill man, struggling to survive on disability and food stamps. The focus here should be firmly on the ongoing national issues of mental health services - which seem to be one of the first things to go in our new climate of austerity - and the great subsequent need for more such services in this country.
What we can expect to hear however, is the never ending wail and moan by the right and their enablers in the media about how "OMG, both sides do it!!!"
Mr. Thomas is a self described Liberal democrat, communist and second amendment supporter. That is not the issue. That he threatened individuals is not excusable or something to be dismissed due to his illness. But that is also not the issue.
The real issue, problem, epidemic here is that we as a country are slowly but surely falling behind in our ability to assist all of our citizens especially those that have demonstrated needs, may be ill mentally or physically and are certainly the most at risk. Additional resources, aid and community understanding will go a long ways toward assisting individuals in these situations and may play instrumental roles in our ability to head off violent incidents or situations before they can be realized.
Some links for Mental Health awareness:
NAMI
Substand Abuse and Mental Health Services Admin