William Robert Braddock III, a former candidate for a Florida Congressional seat, has been indicted for threatening the life of his 2022 Republican primary opponent, Anna Paulina Luna. Luna, who eventually won the election, was among several candidates vying to replace Rep. Charlie Crist when he stepped down to run for governor. The threats made by Braddock surfaced during the campaign and were taken seriously by authorities.
On June 8, 2021, Braddock allegedly threatened to harm or kill Luna and a second victim, an acquaintance of Luna, as stated by the U.S. Department of Justice. He reportedly boasted about using a “Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” to make Luna disappear. This alarming claim raised concerns about the safety of Luna and those close to her during the primary race.
Former Florida Congressional Candidate Indicted for Threatening to Kill Opponent Anna Paulina Luna
Following the threats, Braddock fled the country, heading to the Philippines in an effort to avoid prosecution. He was located there by authorities and deported back to the U.S., where he recently appeared in a Los Angeles court. Braddock now faces charges of interstate transmission of a true threat, which carries a potential maximum sentence of five years in prison upon conviction.
Luna had already taken legal action against Braddock before his flight, filing a restraining order in 2021. In court documents, she accused Braddock of stalking her and expressing a desire for her death. The court granted temporary restraining orders for both Luna and her friend Erin Olszewski, an activist who supported her. Braddock subsequently ended his campaign and left the United States shortly after the restraining orders were issued.
As for Luna’s political future, she is currently running for reelection. Her Republican primary for this election cycle was canceled recently because she was the only candidate to qualify for the race, ensuring her uncontested passage to the general election. This development solidifies her standing as the frontrunner for the seat she won in 2022.
