ST. PAUL, Minn. – A St. Paul man pleaded guilty today to one count of interstate communication of a threat against a U.S. Representative, announced Acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk.
According to court documents, on January 11, 2021, Jason Robert Burham Karimi, 32, left a voicemail on the office telephone of a U.S. Representative located in California. The voicemail contained graphic threats of violence directed at the U.S. Representative. The U.S. Capitol Police reviewed the voicemail and traced the telephone number to Karimi. On January 12, 2021, agents arranged to meet with Karimi near his St. Paul residence. Karimi told agents that he works as a lobbyist for the marijuana industry and the voicemail was meant to cause “political pain” to the U.S. Representative’s political career. Karimi admitted that he knew the voicemail he left would be perceived as a threat.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the U.S. Capitol Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Steinkamp.