Philadelphia man arrested over what FBI calls threat to kill House’s No. 2 Republican

FBI: Philly man threatened Va. congressman

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia man charged with threatening the No. 2 Republican in the House was ordered held without bail Monday pending a mental evaluation after authorities said he tried to post an Internet video that also called the congressman the devil.

Norman Leboon, 38, made a video last week that threatened Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, according a sworn statement. In the video, Leboon called Cantor “pure evil” and made threatening statements about Cantor’s wife, authorities said.

He also called the congressman “Lucifer” and goes on to say, “Remember Eric…our judgment time, the final Yom Kippur has been given,” authorities said.

Cantor is the only Jewish Republican member of Congress, and Passover begins Monday at sundown. Cantor’s office said he had received religious-based threats before, but the affidavit does not say why Leboon wanted to kill Cantor, the House Republican whip.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Reed said the threat against Cantor does not appear to be connected to the health care reform bill, though it’s not yet clear if Leboon was upset about other issues.

“From all appearances Mr. Leboon seems to suffer from a major psychiatric illness,” Reed said during a brief court hearing.

Before the video was produced, a bullet was shot through Cantor’s campaign office in Richmond. Police determined it was a random act, Cantor spokesman Brad Dayspring said. Law enforcement told Cantor about the video over the weekend.

The video was made Wednesday with a cell-phone camera and when Leboon tried to send it, it was flagged, Reed said.

The FBI received a copy Friday and investigators said they used law enforcement databases and a recent arrest photo to determine the man in the video was Leboon.

After his arrest Saturday at his home, Leboon waived his rights and told investigators that he had made the video, the affidavit said. He also stated that he had made more than 2,000 other threatening videos.

During their research, authorities discovered there was a local bench warrant out for Leboon in Pennsylvania on charges of terroristic threats and other counts, the affidavit said.

Leboon’s public defender Rossman Thompson declined comment.

A tentative bail hearing was set for Thursday, but it is likely to be delayed until next week.

Associated Press writer Maryclaire Dale contributed to this report.