Montana Man Convicted of Threatening Former Speaker McCarthy Over Chinese Balloon

Richard Rogers was found guilty of making threats and harassing calls after a Chinese spy balloon incident sparked his outrage.

Richard Rogers, 45, was convicted by a federal jury for threatening former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and making harassing phone calls.
Rogers made over 100 calls to McCarthy's office in 75 minutes, following the government's handling of a Chinese spy balloon in February 2023.
The jury found Rogers guilty on two additional counts of harassment for calls made to the FBI tip line in 2021 and 2022.
Prosecutors argued that Rogers' actions went beyond free speech, citing his use of vulgar and threatening language.
Rogers faces up to six years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the threats, with sentencing scheduled for January 31, 2025.