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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — Authorities say a Virginia man has threatened to shoot his local congressman.
Federal prosecutors said in a news release Friday that 69-year-old Wallace Grove Godwin made a threatening statement to staff at U.S. Rep. Scott Taylor's Virginia Beach office Thursday.
Authorities said Godwin became frustrated during a discussion about marijuana policy.
Godwin allegedly mentioned the Republican congressman's upcoming event Saturday and said he was "going to get my shotgun and do something about this."
Authorities say Godwin has a concealed weapon permit and had previously engaged in aggressive interactions with Taylor and his staff.
Godwin faces a charge of threatening to murder and assault a United States official. It carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
Andrew Grindrod, a public defender representing Godwin, declined to comment.
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