Morris County Man Charged with Transmitting Death Threat against Political Commentator

NEWARK, N.J. - A Morris County, New Jersey, man has been charged with posting online a death threat aimed at a political commentator, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

Haim Braverman, 45, of Morris Plains, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce. He made his initial appearance on Oct. 29, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court and was remanded.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On Sept. 10, 2024, Braverman posted a video of himself on a social media platform in which he made various threats to a political commentator who had publicly commented on a prominent, now-deceased rabbi. In the video, Braverman threatened to use a bat against the commentator, stating: "You'll get what's coming to you . . . , I've never met someone . . . if I could f**king kill you right now, I would not even . . . , f**k it I'll give you the steel bat. I wouldn't even stop. I'd kill you. Dead. . . . I'm threatening a death sentence against [the commentator]." Braverman's post also included a written comment from him, stating: "[the commentator] needs to be killed." Braverman also transmitted an audio message to a group chat on a messaging application, referencing the commentator and stating, "After I heard what . . . [the commentator] said, I will go to prison, gladly find her and kill her . . . I will find a f**king weapon and f**king kill her. I am outraged."

The charge of transmitting a threat in interstate or foreign commerce carries a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum fine of $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark, and the Morris County Sheriff's Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Gannon, with the investigation leading to the charge.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek of the National Security Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.