A Michigan man was arrested last week after he allegedly threatened to shoot and kill CNN employees, according to reports.
Brandon Griesemer, 19, was arrested after the FBI investigated 22 calls he made to the news outlet earlier this month, CBS46 reports.
“Fake news. I’m coming to gun you all down,” he reportedly told a CNN operator.
In another call, Griesemer allegedly said: “I’m smarter than you. More powerful than you. I have more guns than you. More manpower. Your cast is about to get gunned down in a matter of hours. I am coming to Georgia right now to go to the CNN headquarters to fucking gun every single last one of you.”
Griesemer was charged with transmitting interstate communications with the intent to extort and threat to injure. He was released on Friday on a $10,000 bond.
“We take any threats to CNN employees or workplaces, around the world, extremely seriously,” the news outlet said in a statement. “This one is no exception. We have been in touch with local and federal law enforcement throughout, and have taken all necessary measures to ensure the safety of our people.”
President Donald Trump has repeatedly used violent rhetoric against the “fake news” media, particularly CNN. Last year Trump retweeted a GIF of him wrestling Vince McMahon with the CNN logo superimposed over him. In late December, Trump also retweeted a picture of him sitting in a limousine on the phone. A blood splatter with the CNN logo was on the bottom of his shoe.
The rhetoric and violent images have been criticized by journalists, believing that it normalizes violence against the press.
It is not clear whether Griesemer was a supporter of the president.
