William O. Diederich of Madison, Wisconsin was arrested today by federal agents for alleged threats to blow up the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin State Journal reports that the Mr. Diedrich is also alleged to have threatened to shoot supporters of the recall effort against Republican Governor Scott Walker.
On Feb. 24, the affidavit states, Diederich left a voice mail message stating that when the building explodes, the bombings of Sterling Hall on the UW-Madison campus and the federal building in Oklahoma City will "seem like a firecracker compared to what's gonna happen to you people."
The message states that the building was going to blow up "one of these days."
"I'm not going to tell you how it's gonna happen 'cause I don't know exactly how it's gonna happen, but I can guarantee it's going to happen, and I tell ya, it's not going to be good," the caller, alleged to be Diederich, states in the message.
Diederich allegedly threatened violence against President Obama, any candidates running against Scott Walker, and people near the capitol Diederich determined to be Democrats.
Here is the entire press release from the Milwaukee office of the FBI:
Madison Man Charged with Making Telephone Threat
U.S. Attorney’s Office Western District of Wisconsin
May 18, 2012 (608) 264–5158
MADISON—John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that William O. Diederich, 61, Madison, Wisconsin, has been charged with using a telephone to make a threat.
In a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Madison yesterday, Diederich was charged with threatening to damage and destroy a building and to kill and injure individuals by means of an explosive. The complaint alleges that he made this threat using a telephone on February 24, 2012.
This charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
Diederich was arrested earlier today at a residence in Pickerel, Wisconsin. He will make an initial appearance in federal court in Madison at 3:00 p.m. today.
The charge against Diederich was the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department and FBI. The prosecution of this matter has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey M. Anderson.
You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.