2 Kansas men plead guilty in separate threats against Rep. Omar, ICE agents

Two men from Wichita, Kansas have pleaded guilty in separate federal cases involving threats posted on social media against U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, according to federal prosecutors.

Adam Lee Osborn, 60, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate communication with a threat to injure after prosecutors said he posted threats in January about killing Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democratic member of Congress from Minnesota.

According to court documents, Wichita police learned that Osborn had written “I’m going to kill Ilhan Omar!” on his social media page. He also posted a photo of himself holding an AR-15-style rifle in one hand and a 30-round magazine with live ammunition in the other.

When officers went to Osborn’s home to question him, he admitted writing the posts, according to prosecutors. He told officers that he did not intend to personally harm anyone but wanted to “maybe provoke someone to handle business.”

Prosecutors said Osborn told officers that “handle business” meant to “take ’em out,” and that “take ’em out” meant to kill them.

In the second case, Joaquin Hernandez, 24, pleaded guilty to the same charge after posting a social media video in January in which he threatened to shoot ICE agents at point-blank range if he saw them in Wichita.

Hernandez admitted that he made the statements knowing the threat against ICE agents was not a joke or mere political argument, according to court documents.

“Our country prides itself on being one where people can express their political views, but they must do so in a responsible manner,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Kriegshauser said. “These two defendants crossed the line into criminality by making threats of violence.”

The Wichita Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating both cases.