Brett Forsell, who also lives in Seattle, is accused of stalking and threatening Pramila Jayapal. He was caught late at night outside Jayapal’s home after authorities reported hearing the guy yelling that he was going to kill her. Although Brett Forsell was initially acquitted on Wednesday, the King County District Attorney’s Office said he will be charged with felony stalking and hate crimes against Pramila Jayapal, the first Indian American member of Congress.
NEW – Brett Forsell is charged by the King County Prosecutor with one felony count of stalking.
He was arrested outside MP Pramila Jayapal’s house with a gun pic.twitter.com/rVUACTkbI3
— Nicholas Wu is at #AAJA22 (@nicholaswu12) July 28, 2022
What happened to Pramila Jayapal at the hands of Brett Forsell?
Brett Forsell allegedly began targeting Pramila Jayapal because of her elected status, according to arrest paperwork. According to NBC, the harassment began in January when Forsell wrote an email to the US representative saying he didn’t like her. Prosecutors say the case took a turn for the worse in late June, when Forsell began stalking and driving around the politician’s home, hurling profanities and threatening her. Authorities said he initially stopped after being challenged by her husband, but would later return.
Jayapal accused Forsell of walking up to her porch and making anti-Indian remarks on July 9. Forsell, she claimed, said:
“Back to India.”
According to court filings, he would also turn his car around outside the home in a threatening manner. Jayapala’s husband said that he too shot at them with a pellet gun. When Seattle police arrived, Forsell surrendered with his hands up. He was found to be in possession of a weapon. Reacting to the incident, Jayapala’s spokesperson, Siham Znibner, said that the MP and her family were unharmed.
According to Znibner:
“Congresswoman Jayapal says the events took place Saturday night at her home in Seattle while she was there.”
The statement read:
“The congresswoman and her family are safe and she appreciates the many calls and well wishes from constituents.”
In a separate statement, Pramila Jayapal thanked the authorities for their intervention.
She stated:
“I am grateful to the King County District Attorney’s Office for holding this man accountable for his dangerous actions, the victim’s attorney for assisting her throughout the process, and the Seattle Police Department, the US Capitol Police and the House of Arms Sergeant for detaining my family, me and my staff safe.””
According to authorities, Forsell is now subject to a temporary extreme risk protection order, which suspends his ability to own a gun. His bail was set at $500,000.
Categories: Entertaintment
Source: HIS Education