Federal and Georgia law enforcement have taken a suspect into custody in connection with death threats made against Republican Senate candidate Mike Collins and his son-in-law, officials said Monday.
The FBI, along with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Butts County Sheriff's Office, arrested Anthony Lantrell Bennett in Buffalo, New York, according to statements posted on social media. Bennett has been charged with two counts of terroristic threats, the sheriff's office said.
Authorities said Bennett admitted to making the threats, which they linked to a false online story. “State lines don't protect those who threaten violence, and they do not stop the FBI and our law enforcement partners from pursuing them,” said Allen D. Davis II, special agent in charge of the FBI's Buffalo field office, in a statement.
Collins, who is running against incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, thanked law enforcement for their swift action. “I'm grateful to the FBI, the Butts County Sheriff's Department, and all law enforcement partners for acting quickly to protect my family,” he wrote on X.
The congressman also used the incident to criticize his opponent, suggesting that Ossoff's rhetoric had contributed to a climate of hostility. “It's become fashionable for leftist to say anything they want about their Republican opponents to try to irrationally and inaccurately paint them as monsters,” Collins posted. “My opponent clearly likes to play that irresponsible game, and here we are. When you mix false accusations with inflammatory rhetoric, it fuels the lunatics who want to settle political disagreements with violence.”
Collins called on Ossoff to condemn political violence and to apologize for what he described as false attacks. An Ossoff campaign spokesperson responded: “Senator Ossoff condemns all threats of violence.” The campaign did not confirm whether the two men have spoken since the arrest.
The race between Collins and Ossoff has drawn national attention, with recent polling averages showing Ossoff holding a significant lead. However, Collins has faced scrutiny over controversies involving former aides and family members, including his son-in-law, David Alan Scheer II, who was previously reported to have shared antisemitic and white nationalist content online. Collins has distanced himself from those views, saying, “I condemn all forms of anti-Semitism. I don't care what the source is.”
The arrest comes amid a broader concern about political violence in the United States, which has seen high-profile incidents in recent years, including the attempted assassination of former President Trump and the killing of a Minnesota state lawmaker. Law enforcement officials emphasized the importance of interagency cooperation in such cases, a theme echoed by ongoing debates about political security in the current election cycle.
As the campaign continues, Collins has sought to focus on issues affecting Georgians, while Ossoff's team has reiterated its stance against violence. The case against Bennett is pending in the courts.
