Man charged with threatening Daschle

Casper Star Tribune ^ | 03/20/03 | ??

[What Is Ain't]

SPEARFISH, S.D. (AP) - A Sundance, Wyo., man is facing a felony charge after being accused of threatening Sen. Tom Daschle.

Raymond Douglas Howard, 58, has been charged with one count of threatening a constitutional officer. He also faces misdemeanor charges of making a threatening phone call and disorderly conduct.

On the morning of March 8, Spearfish Police Department officers responded to an anonymous 911 phone call in which a male voice stated, ''We're going to kill Senator Daschle today,'' according to documents filed in the case.

Dispatchers traced the call to a pay phone near a Spearfish restaurant, and police tracked footprints in the snow to a car that belonged to Howard in a parking lot across the street, according to the court documents filed in Lawrence County Court.

Police followed the footprints to a grocery store and inquired about Howard. Managers told police that Howard worked as a stocker there and had just returned from a break.

An officer questioned Howard and determined that the boot prints matched the boots that Howard was wearing. Howard denied both using the pay phone at all and making any threatening calls. But he said he did start walking to the restaurant to buy a newspaper, then turned around before reaching the restaurant because he realized he already had the publication.

But police said the footprints, which went to the pay phone, did not back up Howard's explanation and he was arrested.

Daschle, D-S.D., made a scheduled 1 p.m. appearance in Spearfish on March 8 and he later visited a trade show in Belle Fourche.

Howard is currently free on a $5,000 cash bond. An arraignment has been scheduled for March 25.

Daschle, who has been Senate majority leader and is now Senate minority leader, has acknowledged in past interviews that he receives numerous threats but he has declined to provide details. For the past several years, Daschle has traveled with Capitol Police agents when he visits South Dakota.

[dawgmeat9]

Many think it, most don't act on it

[VRWC_minion]

I hope this guy isn't registered here.

[InvisibleChurch]

a constitutional officer

sure

[MEG33]

I'm not sure it's wise for FR to comment!

[Paul Atreides]

I guess it is just a natural result of Tommy's miserable failure at diplomacy. He should be asking himself what he has done to make this fellow hate him.

[MHGinTN]

I can understand how the man got that way, but that is not the wat to get rid of the despotic little toad Daschle. Humiliation at the polls is the way to shove his bitterness down his smarmy croaking throat.

[Keith in Iowa]

>>...charged with one count of threatening a constitutional officer...

Here's the guy's defense: Daschle has not lived up to his oath of office, thus he's not a constitutional officer...

[aynrandfreak]

Get ready for them to blame talk radio.

[swilhelm73]

Anyone know whether Mr Howard was consuming a large amount of *Irish* coffee that morning?

[Scourge of God]

For the past several years, Daschle has traveled with Capitol Police agents when he visits South Dakota.

The dude has to travel with cop bodyguards in his own state! How pathetic is that?

Scourge

[Jorge]

I guess it is just a natural result of Tommy's miserable failure at diplomacy. He should be asking himself what he has done to make this fellow hate him.

Exactly. I am saddened.

[CommandoFrank]

Daschle has traveled with Capitol Police agents when he visits South Dakota.

If he is so disliked in S Dakota, how does he get reelected???

Oh wait, I forgot about the voter fraud investigation....

[Palladin]

There's a law against threatening Tom Daschle? Aw, shucks!

[Quix]

DASHDULL IS NOT WORTH THREATENING.

A hollow stinky fartbag with leaks at both ends.

But plenty destructive to the nation, on the other hand.

But God is the best and only one to really deal with the traitor.

Mere mortals should not dirty their hands.

[Paul Atreides]

What's he afraid of?

Another Senator's ten-year old kid taking away his lunch money.

[Windcatcher]

I wish Daschle a long, healthy, DISCREDITED life. The LAST thing I want is another LEFTIST martyr.

These people need to be EXPOSED and DISCREDITED, not--repeat, NOT--harmed. It's their Maxist IDEAS that need to be defeated.

[Paul Atreides]

Is there a law against b*tchslapping him?

[Windcatcher]

Gack. For some reason I can't type tonight. "M-a-r-x-i-s-t".