Sarasota man pleads guilty to threatening Rep. Ilhan Omar

FILE – In this Jan. 31, 2020, file photo, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., participates in a panel during a campaign event for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders in Clive, Iowa. Omar on Monday, June 15, announced the death of her father due to complications from COVID-19. In a statement, Omar said Nur Omar Mohamed died Monday. She gave no additional information. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

Posted: Apr 19, 2022 / 06:14 PM EDT

Updated: Apr 20, 2022 / 05:37 AM EDT

SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) – A Sarasota man has pleaded guilty to threatening U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar nearly three years ago.

Court records show that 67-year-old David Hannon pleaded guilty Tuesday in Tampa federal court to one count of threatening a federal official.

Prosecutors say Hannon sent an email to Omar threatening to kill her in July 2019 following a televised news conference held by the Minnesota representative and three other congresswomen.

Hannon referred to Omar and the other congresswomen of color as “radical rats” and asked Omar if she was prepared “to die for Islam.”

Investigators say the email further stated that Hannon was going to shoot Omar in the head.

“No one should fear violence because of who they are or what they believe,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “Unlawful threats against our elected officials are an assault against our democracy, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to seek justice in these cases.”

A Venice man was recently sentenced to 15 months in federal prison after he threatened the life of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn, and other lawmakers.