WASHINGTON — A Utah man has pleaded guilty to making violent threats against employees of a Washington, D.C.-based Palestinian rights organization, federal officials announced Monday.
Kevin Brent Buchanan admitted to transmitting threats across state lines, specifically using his cellphone to leave five threatening voice messages for members of the organization between October 31 and November 2, 2023. In his final message, Buchanan said, among other things, “Your families are going to be followed and watched” and “You are all going to [expletive] die, you pieces of [expletive] traitors.”
According to court documents, Buchanan acknowledged he targeted the group because its staff and members are Palestinian and because the organization advocates for Palestinian rights.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly has scheduled Buchanan’s sentencing for November 18. He faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The FBI Washington Field Office led the investigation. The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for the District of Columbia, and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven Jensen.
