Maryland man 'upset at the political situation' is charged with threatening to execute Biden and Kamala on national TV

A Maryland man was charged Wednesday with making death threats against Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in a letter left on the doorstep of a neighbor who had yard signs supporting the candidates.  

James Dale Reed, 42, of Frederick, told investigators that he was 'upset at the political situation' when he wrote the threatening letter, a U.S. Secret Service agent said in an affidavit. He was identified on a Ring door camera.

'This is a warning to anyone reading this letter if you are a Biden/Harris supporter you will be targeted. We have a list of homes and addresses by your election signs,' the handwritten letter said. 'We are the ones with those scary guns, We are the ones your children have nightmares about ... When We capture Grandpa Biden We will all severely beat him to the point of death.'

The letter, dropped off in the early hours of October 4, also threatened an act of sexual violence against Harris and executing both Democrats on national television.

Reed was in state custody when a criminal complaint was filed against him in federal court in Baltimore, U.S. Attorney Robert Hur's office said in a news release. He faces five years in federal prison if convicted. 

A door camera captured video of a person resembling Reed leaving the letter on his neighbor's doorstep early on the morning of October 4, authorities said. The neighbor said he didn't know Reed but had several yard signs supporting the Democratic candidates for president and vice president.

James Dale Reed, 42, of Frederick, told investigators that he was 'upset at the political situation' when he wrote the threatening letter, a U.S. Secret Service agent said in an affidavit. He was identified on a Ring door camera, left

'This is a warning to anyone reading this letter if you are a Biden/Harris supporter you will be targeted. We have a list of homes and addresses by your election signs,' the handwritten letter said. 'We are the ones with those scary guns, We are the ones your children have nightmares about ... When We capture Grandpa Biden We will all severely beat him to the point of death'

'We take these types of threats extremely seriously,' Hur said in a statement. 'Such threats to commit violence are illegal and have no place in our democracy, and we will hold accountable those who make them.'

The letter threatened violence against Democrats and said that 'Grandpa Biden' and Harris would both be attacked and executed, the Secret Service agent´s affidavit says.

An anonymous tip to police led to investigators to question Reed at his home last Tuesday, prosecutors said. 

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks as Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., listens last Thursday

A door camera captured video of a person resembling Reed leaving the letter on his neighbor's doorstep early on the morning of October 4, authorities said. The neighbor said he didn't know Reed but had several yard signs supporting the Democratic candidates for president and vice president

Reed initially denied leaving the letter but was arrested two days later after he admitted writing and delivering it to his neighbor, according to Hur's office.

'He then explained his involvement to the agents by saying that `This will happen´ (referring to individuals making threatening comments) due to the political climate,' the Secret Service agent wrote.

Reed initially denied leaving the letter but was arrested two days later after he admitted writing and delivering it to his neighbor, according to Hur's office

The agent noted that Reed was 'known to' the Secret Service for making a threatening statement against an unidentified person under the agency's protection in 2014.

Online court records don't list an attorney representing Reed in the federal case. A docket entry in the state case against Reed indicates he waived his right to have a lawyer represent him during his initial appearance in Frederick District Court last week.