A bombshell Department of Justice statement this week announced charges against a Florida man who reportedly threatened to have his political opponent murdered. 

According to Yahoo News, William Robert Braddock III, 41, of St. Petersburg, Florida, was charged this week with threatening two people. While names were not provided in the indictment, one of his political opponents was Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), who eventually won the race.

One of the persons he threatened with death was part of the 2022 election for Florida’s 13th Congressional District -- the race he ran against Luna.

Notably, Luna had previously reported that Braddock, in court documents from 2021, stalked her and threatened her life.

What's going on?

As a result of her legal action in 2021, Luna and one of her friends, who happens to be a conservative activist, were granted restraining orders against Braddock.

Shortly after the judge granted the order, Braddock dropped out of the race.

According to the Justice Department memo, Braddock had threatened to "call up my Russian-Ukrainian hit squad" and make his primary opponent vanish.

🔥🚨BREAKING: Opponent of Rep. Anna Paulina Luna was charged with threatening to hire hit squad to kill Rep. Paulina.

William Braddock, 41, of St. Petersburg, Fla. is accused of making the alleged threats on June 8, 2021 — including one where he threatened to “call up my… pic.twitter.com/YWCWofOFp7

— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) September 29, 2024

Yahoo News noted:

A spokesperson for Luna told NBC News her office could not comment on the case but said the congresswoman has “faced a growing number of death threats” in the last month, which the spokesperson said pointed to a "broader and more disturbing issue of violence in the political arena.

Luna also happens to be a close ally of former President Donald Trump.

Trump's close ally

According to a Politico report from earlier this year, Luna led the charge with a group of her GOP colleagues to have President Trump awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

The outlet noted:

Luna (R-FL), joined by seven other Republicans — GOP Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler (PA), and Reps. Lauren Boebert (CO), Andy Ogles (TN), Randy Weber (TX), Bob Good (VA), Mary Miller (IL) and Mike Waltz (FL) — offered the resolution Tuesday.

After his legal troubles began, Braddock reportedly fled the country, taking up residence in the Philippines.

He was deported back to the United States last week to face both charges.