- A New York man pleaded guilty Wednesday to leaving threatening voicemails for GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
- Joseph F. Morelli, 51, called Taylor Greene’s office from his Endicott home and threatened to hurt her, prosecutors say.
- Morelli — who dared the lawmaker to press charges — now faces up to 5 years in prison.
A New York man who pleaded guilty Wednesday to leaving threatening voicemails for right-wing GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene dared her to press charges and even spelled out his full name and left his phone number on one of the menacing calls, federal prosecutors say.
Joseph F. Morelli, 51, admitted that he called Greene’s office three times from his Endicott home on March 3, 2022, according to the US Attorney’s Office in New York.
According to court records, Morelli pled guilty to three counts of interstate threatening communications. He also identified himself in the voicemails in federal court.
Prosecutors say Morelli admitted he left Greene a voicemail saying, “I’m gonna have to take your life into my own hands… I’m gonna hurt you. Physically, I’m gonna harm you.”
According to the feds, Morelli admitted he said in another voicemail: “You promote violence, and I think as a true patriot and humanitarian and human being, I think I’m gonna have to show you, to your face, right up front, what violence truly is and I don’t think you’re gonna like it.”
At one point, Morelli even spelled out his name and told Greene’s office where he lived, according to court records.
“My name is Joseph Morelli, M-O-R-E-L-L-I,” he said, according to court documents.
He also dared Greene to press charges, according to the documents, saying it’d give him a chance in court to say “how bad you are for humanity.”
Morelli is under house arrest until his sentencing on June 1. He faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
