Massachusetts Man Charged With Cyberstalking Podcaster Katie Miller 40+ Times
A Massachusetts man was arrested for allegedly cyberstalking conservative podcaster and ex-Trump official Katie Miller with dozens of menacing calls and messages.
Massachusetts Man Arrested for Cyberstalking Former Trump Official Katie Miller
A Massachusetts man was arrested Thursday on federal cyberstalking charges after allegedly targeting conservative podcaster and former Trump administration official Katie Miller with at least 40 menacing phone calls and messages over several weeks, ABC News US reports.
John Anthony Proia III, 41, faces one count of cyberstalking. An attorney listed for him had not responded to a request for comment as of Thursday.
Court documents do not identify the victim by name, but a person familiar with the matter confirmed the target was Katie Miller. That person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss non-public aspects of the investigation.
Authorities say Proia left disturbing voicemails and sent threatening text messages directed at Miller and her husband, Stephen Miller, who serves as White House deputy chief of staff. Messages were also sent to phone numbers belonging to her parents, according to prosecutors.
Leah Foley, the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, issued a statement warning would-be offenders: "Those who use technology to harass, intimidate or torment others should understand that attempts to anonymize their criminal conduct will not shield them from prosecution. We will find you, and we will hold you accountable."
The investigation also generated internal turmoil at the FBI's Washington field office. Two senior counterterrorism supervisors were recently reassigned by the office's leader, in part due to dissatisfaction over their handling of and approach to the Miller probe, according to multiple people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss non-public personnel changes.
Darren Cox, the assistant director in charge of the Washington field office, said in a statement that the reassignments were not ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel. Cox described the moves as a personnel decision "based on our constant evaluation of mission needs," adding that "any suggestion otherwise is false."
Source: ABC News US