Okla. man who stalked and threatened US representative sentenced to three years in prison
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A Bartlesville man was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison for stalking and threatening U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern and his wife online and in person for years, U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson announced.
Keith Charles Eisenberger, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to three years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. The terms were part of a plea agreement reached last year.
“Eisenberger threatened a member of Congress and his family in an attempt to interfere with and undermine our democratic process and the duties of that official,” said Johnson, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma, based in Tulsa.
“Online threats of violence meant to intimidate elected officials, or any member of our community are criminal acts and will be investigated and prosecuted.”
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Johnson’s office said Eisenberger first began harassing Hern, R-Tulsa, and his wife in late 2018, through phone calls and personal visits to the congressman’s offices in Tulsa and Washington, D.C. The U.S. Capitol Police had to remove him several times from the office building, according to the U.S. attorney.
Eisenberger had a vendetta against Hern because he believed the congressman had been appointed to the position instead of him. Hern was elected, not appointed, to Congress, first in 2018.
Eisenberger posted numerous threats on social media. His plea agreement included admissions that he: used electronic devices and cellular devices to send threats through cyberspace with the intent to harass, intimidate and threaten Hern; threatened to assault and kidnap Hern and his spouse with the intent to impede, intimidate and interfere with Hern while he was engaged in his official duties; and threatened to retaliate against Hern.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Man sentenced for years of stalking, threatening Oklahoma congressman
