Bart Stupak Receives Threatening Letter For Healthcare Reform Support; Colorado Man Arrested

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Federal authorities say a father and son are charged with conspiring to threaten U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak and his family because of the Michigan Democrat's crucial vote for the health care overhaul.

The charges announced Monday followed an FBI investigation of a letter that said the writer would "paint" a Michigan bridge with the blood of Stupak and his family.

Federal prosecutors identify the suspects as 73-year-old Russell Hesch of West Branch, Mich., and 50-year-old David Hesch of Loveland, Colo.

Russell Hesch is being held in Michigan pending a detention hearing. Court-appointed attorney Robert Dunn says his client is "absolutely not guilty."

Authorities plan to appoint an attorney for David Hesch, who appeared Monday in federal court in Denver.

Comments

[dbrett480]

09:18 PM on 07/01/2010

I think this family has been watching too much Fox & Friends.

[Mike169]

11:07 AM on 06/14/2010

Sounds like the Hesch family is in for some psychiatric testing.

[DevonTexas]

12:06 PM on 06/09/2010

"Court-appointed attorney Robert Dunn says his client is "absolutely not guilty."

What else can he say?

[Scott Pantall]

09:46 AM on 06/09/2010

Only a complete screwball-nutcase would mail a threatening letter to someone who doesn't represent them. A competent nutcase would at least send it to their own representative.

[terry63]

06:14 PM on 06/07/2010

Stupak, like many others, (Blanch Lincoln). are on their way out, They are both getting their reward from the American public, and the party that they supported on this health care bill, they stuck their necks out for Pelosi and Reid. This is their reward.Obama wont even campaign for Lincoln, and stupak is in the middle of a legal scandal.

[yweston]

05:52 AM on 06/08/2010

Blanche Lincoln didn't vote for healthcare. You're a typical Rethug/Moosiah/Bagger lemming advocating "vi0lence" against our Representatives because they disagree with you. Your Representatives have NO ideas and a 24/7 h8 machine in Fox. And you think that's "commonsense" conservatism.