Rep. Maxine Waters said she was fearful, but wanted Brian Michael Gaherty to see that she would not back down.
Gaherty, a 62-year-old man living in Houston, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison, on Monday, for making racist and threatening phone calls to Waters in 2022. Waters has been one of former president Donald Trump’s most vociferous critics.
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Gaherty pleaded guilty last year to one count of threatening a U.S. official, admitting to have made four phone calls to Waters’ offices, using numerous racial epithets while threatening to assault or murder her.
“I’mma cut your Black ass throat n***a,” he said on a voicemail message. “We got something for your ass now b*tch, you Black [bleep] ... We coming for your Black ass.”
According to the Courthouse News report, in the last call, he spoke to a staff member at the lawmaker’s district office and said, “Tell Congresswoman Maxine Waters when I see her on the street I’m going to bust her upside her head.”
Waters, 85, has represented parts of southern L.A. County for 33 years and has served as chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. She was in court for the sentencing, joined by family members and supporters. She told the judge that the threats had led to nightmares and that Gaherty’s pledge to cut her throat was disturbing.
“I’m fearful,” Waters said. “I’m afraid to be approached by strangers.”
Gaherty insisted he has no memory of making the phone calls.
“I’m sorry for what I did,” Gaherty said, speaking to Waters directly. “As God as my witness. From one Christian to another, I ask for your forgiveness.” He added: “I’m deeply sorry. I can understand the fear it caused.”
Gaherty’s attorney, Joseph Vinas, asked for a sentence of either house arrest or time served plus supervised release.
“We know what he said,” Vinas told the judge. “We’re talking about 4.5 minutes of words. Terrible words. But he had no plan. There were no credible threats.”
After the hearing, when asked if he had anything else he wanted to say, Gaherty told a reporter from Courthouse News: “I love everybody and I’m sorry this happened. I have no hatred in my heart.”
Waters, who hoped the sentencing would deter others, accepted the apology but doubted its sincerity.
“When you’re in that situation, you’ll do everything you can to avoid losing,” she said.
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