Man Convicted Of Death Threats To Pelosi Seeks New Trial: Jury Didn’t Hear He Was “Extremely Intoxicated”

Courthouse News reports:

Of the hundreds of calls Steve Martis made to elected officials between 2018 and 2021, “only a few drew scrutiny,” his attorney told a Ninth Circuit panel Tuesday morning. “What did he say?” asked U.S. Circuit Judge Michael Hawkins. “I’m coming to kill you, c-u-n-t,” Michele Moretti, the attorney, replied, spelling out the last word. “Are you saying that the First Amendment protects this speech?” asked Hawkins, a Bill Clinton appointee.

Martis, 79, was convicted of using interstate commerce to make threats in November 2021 for two voicemails he left at the office of then-U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He has 17 months left on release. Martis argues his trial was unfair because his extreme intoxication at the time of the calls wasn’t considered.

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Arizona man who threatened Pelosi via voicemail asks appellate court for new trial @JournalistJoeAZ https://t.co/52uLxZBAxm

— Courthouse News (@CourthouseNews) February 13, 2024