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Ohio Man Who Threatened to Kill Stivers Gets Three Years

Left a series of voicemails threatening Ohio congressman and his family

Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, walks down the House steps after final votes of the week last month. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, walks down the House steps after final votes of the week last month. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

An Ohio man who sent threatening voicemails to Ohio Republican Rep. Steve Stivers was sentenced to 40 months in prison.

E. Stanley Hoff, 69, sent a series of threatening voicemails to Stivers, who is chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, criticizing the House Republican agenda, the Columbus Dispatch reported.

“We’re coming to get every goddamn one of you and your families. Maybe the next one taken down will be your daughter. Huh? Or your wife. Or even you,” one of the voicemails said, according to court documents.

Hoff had been warned by Capitol Police after he had left five threatening messages. When he referenced the shooting last year at the Republican team’s  practice for the Congressional Baseball Game, police took action.

“We had to take it seriously, especially when he mentioned the baseball game,” U.S. Assistant Attorney Kevin Kelley said during the trial.

The shooting left House Majority Whip Steve Scalise severely injured.

Hoff was arrested and pled guilty in his trial.

U.S. Attorney Benjamin Glassman said he hopes the sentencing serves as a deterrent.

“Peaceful political argument or banter is one thing, but Hoff’s conduct was a far cry from that,” he said. “Threatening to assault or murder a United States official on account of that official’s performance of his or her duties is a serious federal crime — regardless of political party or views.”

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