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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Bail Set for Man Charged With Lieberman Threat

PHILADELPHIA (CN) - A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the bail-conditioned release of a 23-old-man charged with threatening to shoot Sen. Joe Lieberman.

Dmitry Dyatlov, a graduate of the University of Michigan, posted on his blog: "there is, at least, one Jew, who we absolutely must shoot in the face (many times), ASAP: Joe Lieberman," according to an affidavit from FBI Special Agent Steve McQueen.

At a pretrial detention hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Perkin said Dyatlov can be released after authorities install electronic-monitoring equipment on his computer, which could happen in the next day or two.

Visibly angry and letting his head bob as a U.S. Marshal escorted him to the defense table, the roughly 6-foot-2 Uzbeki-born defendant sat down as Perkin prepared to list the conditions required for his release.

"What if I don't agree?" Dyatlov barked, glaring straight at the judge.

Perkin said: "If you don't agree to them, I'll put you in jail."

Dyatlov accepted the offer, which included $50,000 bail.

U.S. Capitol Police told the FBI on Aug. 2 that Dyatlov had threatened Lieberman's life on a blog, according to the FBI.

Agent McQueen said Capitol Police were alerted by a security worker for Accenture Consulting, in Virginia, where Dyatlov worked "until about a week ago."

Dyatlov worked in information technology.

The Accenture security worker informed co-workers, and the police, that Dyatlov had posted on his blog: "Rammstein Concerts: Better than killing Jews."

"One of my buddies called it an almost 'religious' experience in high school. Why Not? Actually, there is, at least, one Jew, who we absolutely must shoot in the face (many times),

ASAP: Joe Lieberman.

"3 reasons:

"1. Liberal

"2. Doesn't like Marilyn Manson (or Eminem)

"3. Someone put this retard on the 'Security' committee.. OMG WE'RE FUCKED"

McQueen says he questioned Dyatlov at his Philadelphia apartment on Aug. 2, and Dyatlov admitted writing the post from a computer at a Kinko's in downtown Philadelphia.

"When Dyatlov was asked what his issue was with Senator Joseph Lieberman, Dyatlov replied that he hated him. Dyatlov said he had no intentions of carrying out any of the threats he posted, but that he did not care if someone killed Senator Lieberman. Dyatlov said he only typed the message and did not feel responsible if that message influenced others to act upon it," according to the affidavit.

McQueen said Dyatlov smelled of alcohol during the interview and an empty pill bottle with a scratched-out label indicating it had once contained Xanax sat on the kitchen table. The FBI agent says Dyatlov told him he got the bottle from his grandmother.

As the FBI agents left his apartment, Dyatlov told them, "I'm gonna leave you gentleman (sic) with a final thought. In order to fix the system you sometimes need to break the system," according to the affidavit.

The FBI asked Dyatlov what he meant by that, and "Dyatlov said it means what it means," according to the affidavit.

After the agents left, Dyatlov described the interview on his Facebook page, McQueen states. That posting included the statements: "a couple Fbi folks (actually, I didn't get a change to see their badges, I bet they were just 'actors' anyway), knock on my door, and come in to my apartment 'home' because I told them that Joe Lieberman is a sick fuck who should be shot in the face many times, (on my 'blog')

"Hallelujah! You guys are just in time!

"Anyway, they said that im on their 'radar'

"Okey? Fine ......'"

The post remained online the next day, McQueen says.

Dyatlov was arrested on Thursday. He was born in Uzbekistan in 1987, entered the United States in 1988 and is a U.S. citizen, according to the affidavit. He has no criminal history.

Outside the courtroom his attorney declined to comment.

He had argued that his client needed access to the Internet, as being barred from going online would hamper Dyatlov's job search.

Dyatlov is "a college grad looking for a professional job. It's hard to do that" when you can't use the Internet, the attorney told the judge.

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