Washington, D.C.—On July 17, 2025, Seth Jason, a former Anne Arundel County Reserve Officer, was arrested by the United States Capitol Police and charged with threatening a federal official and related offenses. Jason, 64, of Edgewater, Maryland, had served as an Anne Arundel County Reserve Officer since 2016 but is no longer affiliated with the Anne Arundel County Police Department, which noted that reserve officers are unarmed and lack police authority.
Details of the Charges Against the Anne Arundel County Reserve Officer
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia unsealed a four-count indictment against Jason, charging him with influencing a federal official by threat, threatening a family member of a federal official, interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure, and anonymous telecommunications harassment. Between October 11, 2023, and January 21, 2025, Jason allegedly made eight threatening phone calls to the district offices of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) in Rome and Dalton, Georgia. The calls, made from phone lines at Voice of America (VOA) headquarters in Washington, D.C., where Jason was a longtime employee, included threats to assault and murder Greene, her staff, and their families using firearms.
Investigation and Arrest of the Anne Arundel County Reserve Officer
The U.S. Capitol Police, with assistance from the Anne Arundel County Police Department and the State Department Office of Inspector General, conducted the investigation. Authorities seized a laptop, several telephones, an iPad, and multiple thumb drives from Jason. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro described the threats as “repeated and continuous” over 15 months, emphasizing their severity. “I’m looking forward to your book signing. We are all armed and ready to take care of you,” Jason allegedly said, according to Pirro. Jason made his initial court appearance on July 17, 2025, in Washington, D.C., represented by Annapolis attorney J. Dennis Murphy.
Context of Rising Threats
The arrest of the Anne Arundel County Reserve Officer comes amid heightened concerns over threats against public officials. Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan referenced the June 14, 2025, shootings in Minnesota, where a suspect killed former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and wounded another lawmaker and his wife. “This has got to stop,” Sullivan said, stressing accountability for such threats. Rep. Greene, a prominent MAGA conservative, stated, “For 15 months, I received terrifying death threats from one individual who worked alarmingly close to my office building at the Voice of America,” calling for prosecution to the fullest extent.
Impact on Anne Arundel County Reserve Officer Program
The Anne Arundel County Police Department clarified that Jason’s role as an Anne Arundel County Reserve Officer was voluntary and lacked law enforcement powers. His termination from the program underscores the department’s swift response. The case highlights the need for vigilance in addressing threats, with ongoing calls for enhanced security for lawmakers. Additional details are available in the U.S. Attorney’s Office statement.
