Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington) avoided peril after a 48-year-old man was arrested and charged with suspicion of a hate crime after threatening to kill her outside of her Seattle home.
A judge recently set the man’s bail was $500,000.
The representative moved from India to the U.S when she was 16 to attend college at Georgetown University. After a long path of political advocacy, she was elected as a state senator for Washington state. She later ran for State representative and was the first Indian woman to be elected to the U.S Congress.
In a statement sent out by Jayapal’s spokesperson, they stated that they are working with investigators to determine if there was any further threat.
“Congresswoman Jayapal confirms that incidents occurred at her Seattle home on Saturday night when she was present. The congresswoman and her family are safe and appreciate the many calls and good wishes she is receiving from constituents,” the statement read. “She is very grateful for the swift and professional response from the Seattle Police Department, the U.S. Capitol Police, and the FBI investigators who are working together diligently on the investigation and ensuring that she and her family stay safe.”
The arrest was made when a Jayapal called police to report an unknown person standing outside of her home.
According to police reports, the man also drove by the residence several times, shouting profanities at Jayapal. In one instance, the man yelled, “Go back to India; I’m going to kill you.”
When questioned by police, the man responded that he planned to camp outside the congresswoman’s house.
Police have not stated if there were any weapons found at the crime scene.
