Man Arrested For Threatening To Murder GOP Rep, Previously Sued Feds For Non-Enforcement Of Pot Laws

Roll Call reports:

A 69-year-old Virginia Beach resident was arrested Friday for threatening to murder his congressman, GOP Rep. Scott Taylor. Wallace Grove Godwin is being charged with threatening to murder and assault a U.S. official, a crime that carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison if convicted, Tracy Doherty-McCormick, acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Matthew R. Verderosa, the U.S. Capitol Police chief, announced Friday.

Godwin visited Taylor’s Virginia Beach office Thursday to discuss marijuana policy and after apparently becoming frustrated by the discussion with the congressman’s staff, according to the charging documents, said, “Scott is having an event this Saturday. I am going to get my shotgun and do something about this. I will just handle this myself.”

Politico reports:

According to the Capitol Police officer who handled the arrest, Godwin — who holds a legal concealed carry permit — had a previous run-in with Taylor at Taylor’s private residence. According to the officer, in 2017 Godwin “blocked the Congressman’s vehicle with his own vehicle, and waited for the Congressman to come outside.”

“The Congressman left his residence and told GODWIN to move his vehicle. GODWIN then exited the vehicle to speak to the Congressman about marijuana policy,” according to the officer’s affidavit. “The Congressman told GODWIN to leave and GODWIN left the residence without further incident.”

Gowdin was also reported to the Capitol Police in March 2017 after visiting Taylor’s Virginia Beach office and berating staff. Federal court records show that Godwin last year sued the federal government for “non-enforcement” of marijuana laws.

Taylor, a former Navy SEAL, is the original sponsor of the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017.