Michigan Man Arrested After Leaving Racist Voicemail Threatening Sen. Cory Booker With Guns

A Michigan man could face up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine after allegedly threatening to “put a gun” to N.J. Sen. Cory Booker’s face. Rick Lynn Simmons has been charged with interstate communication with threat to injure after he allegedly called Booker’s NJ office from Kent County, Michigan on Oct. 26, leaving a violent, racist voicemail, WOOD-TV reports. The voicemail he left used profanity and a racial slur and at least three references to putting a gun to the Democratic senator’s face. “Come on, you bring it on buddy. Just me and my wife and we got guns a blazin’. You wanna come in here?’” the message said in part, according to the news station. Booker has been flirting with a run for the White House in 2020, his name circulating among the list of potential challengers. Last month, Booker said that he would be making a decision on his next move after the holidays, which could be any day now at this point. If he runs and is elected, the 49-year-old will be the first bachelor elected to the highest office in the country since 1884.