TAMPA, Fla. — William Robert Braddock III, a former Florida Republican congressional candidate, was sentenced to three years in federal prison on Wednesday after being accused of stalking and threatening to have his primary opponent, U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, murdered by a purported foreign hit squad.
The Threat and Its Consequences
Braddock, 41, of St. Petersburg, was sentenced in Tampa federal court after pleading guilty in February to sending an interstate transmission of a threat to injure. The case stems from actions he took during the 2021 Republican primary election for Florida’s 13th Congressional District, where he and Luna were vying for the same seat. Luna ultimately won the primary and later the general election, securing re-election last year.
According to investigators, Braddock spent several months disparaging Luna and attempting to interfere with her life. His most notable threat occurred in a June 2021 telephone call with GOP activist Erin Olszewski, a close friend of Luna’s. During the call, Braddock allegedly threatened to have Luna killed by a “Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” if she continued to perform well in the race. Despite the severity of his threat, authorities found no evidence that Braddock had any contacts with foreign organized crime groups or took any steps to follow through on the murder plot.
Braddock’s Actions and International Flight
After making the threatening call, Braddock fled the country. In late 2021, he traveled to Thailand and eventually relocated to the Philippines, where he remained until his capture in 2023. Braddock voluntarily surrendered to U.S. authorities in Manila, and after being extradited, he faced trial in the United States for his crimes.
Impact of Braddock’s Threat
While Braddock’s threat to Luna was ultimately not acted upon, it underscored the extreme lengths some political candidates are willing to go to in order to secure their positions. U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber, who sentenced Braddock, emphasized the severity of threatening violence in the political sphere.
Conclusion
Braddock’s sentencing marks the culmination of a case that raised concerns about the safety of candidates and the potential for political violence. As Braddock begins his prison sentence, the case also highlights the need for more effective safeguards against such threats in future elections.
Source Attribution
- U.S. District Court Records
- Interviews with Law Enforcement Officials