November 30, 2021 – PHOENIX, Ariz. – On November 18, 2021, Steven Arthur Martis, 77, of Bullhead City, Arizona, was found guilty by a jury of one count of communicating an interstate threat to kill or harm Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi. Martis is set to be sentenced on January 25, 2022.

On January 17, 2021, Martis called Speaker Pelosi’s Washington District Office from his residence in Bullhead City, Arizona, and left two voicemails. In his first voicemail, Martis threatened, “I’m coming to kill you . . . .” Martis followed up with a second voicemail, in which he advised, “You’re dead . . . .” Martis made these two calls after the Federal Bureau of Investigation had approached him and warned him about making similar calls in the past.   

“This case is an important reminder that, although the First Amendment protects our right to free speech, which is one of our most precious individual rights, the United States Attorney’s Office takes threats to kill or harm another individual through a phone call or other form of interstate communication very seriously,” said Acting United States Attorney Glenn B. McCormick.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the United States Capitol Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristen Brook and Joseph Koehler, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER: CR-2021-08043-PCT-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2021-087_Martis

Source: DOJ Release