A man left profanity-filled voicemails with Tennessee’s homeland security office threatening to kill President Barack Obama and other officials, saying in one that he would “light Nashville up,” according to court documents.
Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney and former vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan were also mentioned as targets in the four voicemails left by Jimmie Johnson Jr. on July 11 and 12, according to an affidavit filed by prosecutors Friday in Nashville.
The affidavit says the messages include threats against Obama and others saying that Johnson will “blow them all up” at an airport and come with an assault rifle “and kill all you.” One message refers to Obama by a racial slur.
The affidavit says Johnson made the calls from his cellphone and identified himself by name.
He was arrested on Saturday and is charged with misdemeanor harassment.
Johnson, 45, is from Ardmore, on the Alabama line. The affidavit says Johnson also threatened to have someone shoot a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agent who works on drug investigations in that part of the state.
Johnson also threatened Tennessee’s Homeland Security adviser.
Court records don’t list an attorney for Johnson. He’s jailed on a $5,000 bond on the harassment charge and another $20,000 bond on DUI charges.
A spokeswoman with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security declined to comment on the case because the investigation is ongoing.
