Photo Courtesy of Sen. Warnock
In the early morning hours of Jan. 6, 2021, at approximately 12:42 a.m., Florea referenced Sen. Warnock and stated, “Dead men can’t pass sh*t laws . . .”
By Forum Staff
A Middle Village man has pleaded guilty to posting threats to kill members of Congress and illegally possessing ammunition, federal prosecutors announced Monday.
Eduard Florea, 41, copped to one count of transmitting threats to injure and one count of possessing ammunition after having been convicted of a felony
As set forth in the court filings and Monday’s proceeding, Florea posted threatening statements online about killing elected officials, including now-U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock and committing other acts of violence in Washington, D.C. in connection with the certification of the results of the 2020 Presidential Election. For example, on Jan. 5, 2021, at approximately 8:40 p.m., Florea posted, “We need to all come to an agreement . . . and go armed . . . and really take back Washington.” A few minutes later, Florea posted, “Tomorrow may very [well] be the day war kicks off . . .” At 11:53 p.m. the same day, Florea posted, “Warnock is going to have a hard time casting votes for communist policies when he’s swinging with the f***ing fish.” In the early morning hours of Jan. 6, 2021, at approximately 12:42 a.m., Florea referenced Sen. Warnock and stated, “Dead men can’t pass sh*t laws . . .”
Photo Courtesy of Google
On Jan. 12, 2021, FBI Special Agents and Task Force Officers with the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force executed a search warrant at Florea’s home on 76th Street in Middle Village.
On Jan. 6, 2021, after the assault on the Capitol had begun, Florea posted that he intended to travel to Washington, D.C. as part of a group armed with firearms ready to engage in additional violence. Between approximately 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.—while the Capitol was under siege—Florea posted the following messages, among others:
- “Mine are ready….I am ready…. we need to regroup outside of DC and attack from all sides… talking to some other guys…. I will keep watching for the signal.”
- “I am awaiting my orders…armed and ready to deploy….”
- “Guns cleaned loaded . . . got a bunch of guys all armed and ready to deploy . . . we are just waiting for the word”
- “There 3 car full of armed patriots heading in from NY….”
- “Me and some guys are gearing up to head in. . . . where are you . . . 3 cars already are enroute . . . .all armed.”
- “It’s time to unleash some violence.”
On Jan. 12, 2021, FBI Special Agents and Task Force Officers with the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force executed a search warrant at Florea’s home on 76th Street in Middle Village. The search revealed that Florea, who had been previously convicted of a State firearms-related felony, illegally possessed more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition.
“With today’s guilty plea, Florea admits to threatening the life of a successful candidate for the U.S. Senate and to urging others to take up arms to unleash violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 to thwart the results of the Presidential election,” said Acting Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn Kasulis.
When sentenced, Florea faces up to 15 years in prison.
