Documents say the man left two voice mail messages with Cantor’s Glen Allen, Va., office. FBI: Man threatened Cantor, family

A Tennessee man has been arrested for allegedly threatening to “destroy” Rep. Eric Cantor and attack his family, federal authorities announced on Thursday.

Glendon Swift, 62, of Lenoir City, Tenn. was charged with threatening to assault or murder a member of the immediate family of a U.S. official, according to a federal press release. Court documents state Swift left two voice mail messages with Cantor’s Glen Allen, Va., office on Oct. 27. These “screaming, profanity-laden messages allegedly stated that the caller was going to destroy Rep. Cantor, rape his daughter and kill his wife,” the release said.


If Swift is convicted, he faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.

“Threatening to harm the family of a public official is a very serious charge, and we are grateful to the FBI and their law enforcement partners for their quick action in this case,” the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Neil MacBride, said in a statement.

A Cantor aide listened to the messages and informed the U.S. Capitol Police, which turned to the FBI for assistance in identifying and locating the man, according to the release.

Cantor’s office had no immediate comment.

This is not the first time a man has been arrested for threatening Cantor: In 2010, federal authorities arrested Norman Leboon of Philadelphia and charged him with threatening to kill the congressman and his family.