A federal grand jury has indicted a man accused of making threats to the Wisconsin Democratic Party headquarters in Madison. William Diederich, 61, was arrested in May at his home in Northern Wisconsin. He was charged by prosecutors with using a telephone to threaten property damage, death, or injuries by explosives.
The grand jury confirmed the charge in the indictment it handed down Wednesday. Authorities say the Madison man made over 100 calls to the Democrats’ headquarters from January through May, during the campaign to recall the Republican governor. Diederich allegedly threatened to blow up the Democrats’ offices, shoot at Democrats walking on Madison’s Capitol Square, and shoot anyone who ran in the recall election against Governor Scott Walker.
If convicted, Diederich faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
