A 35-year-old man from Queens, New York, has been sentenced to 13 months in prison for making an astonishing 12,000 harassing and threatening calls to congressional lawmakers. Ade Salim Lilly, who pleaded guilty in May, admitted to making the calls between February 2022 and November 2023, targeting both district offices and Washington DC offices of 54 members of Congress.
Threats and intimidation
Lilly’s harassment included threats to kill at least one staff member, with one call containing the chilling message: “I will kill you, I am going to run you over, I will kill you with a bomb or grenade.” Over a span of just two days in February 2023, he made more than 500 calls to a single lawmaker. Most of his communications were with congressional staff or interns, officials revealed.
Legal consequences
In addition to his prison term, Lilly was sentenced by a federal judge to three years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to charges of interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure and making repeated telephone calls. Despite prosecutors seeking an 18-month sentence, the judge decided on a 13-month term, acknowledging the severity of his actions.
Lilly, a resident of Queens, New York, was arrested in November 2023 after moving to Puerto Rico. His case highlights a troubling trend; Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger testified that threats against lawmakers have surged by 400% over the past six years. “We will enforce the law anytime someone crosses the line from free speech to harassment or threats,” Chief Manger stated.
Motive remains unclear
Despite the severity of his actions, Lilly’s motive and ideology remain unclear. Addressing the court during his sentencing, Lilly claimed, “My intent was always to do what’s best for our future generations.”
Judicial concerns
The judge overseeing the case expressed concern over the increasing violence against politicians, citing recent high-profile attacks, including the attempted assassination of Donald Trump and the hammer attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband. “We’ve got a real problem on our hands,” he said before passing the sentence.
This case underscores the escalating threats faced by public officials and highlights the importance of stringent legal actions to deter such behavior.