Rep. Maxine Waters Maxine Moore WatersPowell, Mnuchin stress limits of current emergency lending programs Pelosi: House will stay in session until agreement is reached on coronavirus relief Omar invokes father's death from coronavirus in reaction to Woodward book MORE (D-Calif.) on Friday blasted a federal judge's decision to release a Coast Guard officer accused of plotting domestic terrorism with a hit list that included her and other prominent Democrats.

A federal judge in Maryland ruled Thursday that Christopher Hasson will be released on bail. Hasson has pleaded not guilty to gun and drug charges. But Hasson's public defender argued that the government could not keep detaining him because he has not been charged with terrorism-related counts, according to CNN.

ADVERTISEMENT

Waters, the chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee, called Hasson a "menace," warning that he should be considered too dangerous to be allowed out of detention.

"There is no credible justification that can explain why a federal judge would allow someone as clearly dangerous and unrepentant as Hasson to walk free while he awaits trial," Waters said in a statement.

Hasson is alleged to be a white supremacist who created a hit list that included Waters, Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiHoyer: House should vote on COVID-19 aid — with or without a bipartisan deal Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose at Supreme Court McCarthy threatens motion to oust Pelosi if she moves forward with impeachment MORE (D-Calif.), Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerCruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish Senate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Schumer interrupted during live briefing by heckler: 'Stop lying to the people' MORE (D-N.Y.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria Ocasio-CortezWells Fargo CEO issues apology after saying there was a 'limited pool of Black talent' Brand responds to Trump claim protesters throw tuna cans at police: 'Eat em, don't throw em' CNN's Don Lemon: 'Blow up the entire system' remark taken out of context MORE (D-N.Y.), Sen. Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisHarris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle Nearly 40 Democratic senators call for climate change questions in debates Joe Biden has long forgotten North Carolina: Today's visit is too late MORE (D-Calif.) and anchors from CNN and MSNBC, among others.

Investigators also said they found at least 15 firearms and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition in his home.

Waters accused the Trump administration of not doing enough to ensure security for prominent Democrats like herself who have been targets. She noted that she has been the target of "several very serious threats from across the country" in the last year, including from a man who mailed explosive devices to media figures and top Democrats.

Waters has become a favorite among liberal activists in the past two years for her outspoken opposition to Trump. She was among the first Democrats to call for impeachment.

Waters now leads the Financial Services Committee, which is conducting an investigation into Trump's business activities.

"Members of Congress must now recognize that many of us who have taken hardline positions against the Trump administration are walking targets and we must use every resource at our disposal to protect ourselves since we cannot expect any assistance from the current Administration," Waters said. "Those of us in Congress and among the president's 'enemies of the people' cannot be assured that Hasson would be kept at bay with the minimal level of oversight the federal judge would prescribe."

Hasson's attorney will propose guidelines for supervised release at another hearing. The judge, Charles Day, called for stringent supervision of Hasson.



"He's got to have a whole lot of supervision," Day said, according to CNN. "Somebody who's got eyes and ears on him like nobody's business."