A 48-year-old man in the United States has been charged with felony stalking after he stood outside Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal's home with a pistol, threatening to kill her.
The man, later identified as Brett Forsell, also yelled expletives such as "Go back to India" outside Jayapal's residence. He was apprehended on the night of 9 July.
Forsell was charged on Wednesday, 27 July. Allegedly, he expressed his intent to return to Jayapal's home as soon as he was released on bail.
As per the court documents, the King County Prosecutor's Office requested $500,000 in bail because Forsell was "likely to commit a violent offence if free in the community."
After Forsell was charged, Jayapal released a statement expressing gratitude towards the authorities.
"I am grateful to the King County Prosecutor's Office for holding this man accountable for his dangerous actions, to the victim's advocate for her assistance throughout the process, and to the Seattle Police Department, US Capitol Police, and the House Sergeant at Arms for continuing to keep my family, me, and my staff safe."Pramila Jayapal, US Democratic Congresswoman
Threats Against Jayapal
On the night of 9 July, Jayapal and her husband Steve Williamson heard someone yelling outside their West Seattle home. According to the report, Williamson ventured out to the front porch and heard male voices yelling expletives like "Go Back To India."
One of the men got back into a vehicle that the other was driving and they sped away when Williamson opened the door. The voices also told Jayapal to harm herself, calling her a "communist."
While Forsell was apprehended on 9 July, Chennai-born Jayapal said there was a similar incident in front of her home on 2 July, according to Tribune India.
As per the court documents, a car returned and sped through Jayapal's street, revved up the engine, and then came to a halt in her driveway that night.
Manifestations of a 'Manic Episode'
Forsell told the police that he used profanities against Jayapal but did not comment about her race or ethnicity. He told FBI agents that he returned to Jayapal's property and was starting to set up a tent from across her home.
However, he claimed that he struggled with mental illness and described his actions as a "manifestation of a manic episode," according to the report.
(With inputs from Tribune India, India West, and American Bazaar.)
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