Georgia man indicted for threatening U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer

This story was updated at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, with additional comment. 

LINCOLN — A 25-year-old Georgia man was arraigned Monday in Atlanta on charges of making threats across state lines against Texas Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Nebraska Republican U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, federal prosecutors announced.

A federal grand jury last week indicted Robert Davis Forney, of Duluth, Georgia, for allegedly leaving voicemails at Fischer’s office and Cruz’s. Prosecutors say he threatened “sexual violence” against both senators, Cruz on Jan. 9 and Fischer on Jan. 10. Authorities say Forney left multiple voicemails threatening “sexual violence” against Cruz and his family.

“Threatening our elected officials and their families is an act of violence that undermines our entire democracy,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, who oversees federal prosecutions in north Georgia. “Political discourse and disagreements never justify resorting to vile attacks against our nation’s leaders.”

The Justice Department prosecution comes on the heels of the successful manhunt that ended Sunday for a Minnesota man who allegedly assassinated a Minnesota lawmaker and shot another.

The increase in political violence follows a 2024 in which violent threats against lawmakers reached a record high for the second consecutive year.

President Donald Trump, a Republican, survived two assassination attempts during his bid to return to the White House. This year, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, had an arsonist attack the Governor’s Mansion, and two Israeli Embassy staffers were killed in Washington, D.C.

A Fischer spokesperson said Tuesday that threats to lawmakers are common and that U.S. Capitol Police took appropriate action on the matter. The FBI and Capitol Police are investigating.

“The senator appreciates Nebraskans’ concerns and their kind words,” the Fischer spokesperson said. “She is continuing to do her job on their behalf.”

Congressional staffers in recent years have reported increases in the number of angry calls from the public. Most calls from the public to congressional representatives and senators are answered by young staffers who are often college-aged.

“Targeting public officials with threatening messages is a serious federal crime,” said Paul Brown, the FBI Atlanta special agent in charge. “There is no place for political violence or threats of violence in the United States. We will not hesitate to arrest and charge others who engage in similar criminal conduct.”