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Law

Arrest made in threats against Rep. McDermott

The FBI says a Palm Springs, Calif., man accused of making threatening, obscene phone calls to the office of U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott  last month told authorities he never intended to hurt anyone.

An FBI complaint unsealed in federal court says Charles Turner Habermann called McDermott's office on Dec. 9th and 10th, leaving two messages.

According to the document, Habermann threatened to kill the congressman - as well as his friends and family - over his opposition to extending tax cuts for the wealthy.

Special Agent Dean Giboney says Habermann told authorities he'd been drinking when he made the calls and would never do anything to jeopardize his $3 million trust fund.

Seattle FBI spokesman Fred Gutt says the complaint was already being drafted before Saturday's shooting in Tucson, Ariz., that killed six people.

The FBI says Habermann previously threatened an unnamed congresswoman and a California assemblyman.

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