A man from New York has been taken into custody after reportedly making threats to detonate a bomb at a state senator’s office in Harlem.
On Monday (November 18), Vadim Dergachev was taken into custody after reportedly entering the office of Sen. Cordell Cleare, situated within the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building, and making a series of threats against her staff, according to the New York Post.
“I’m gonna blow this place up,” Dergachev allegedly said.
Cleare, the representative for the 30th state senate district, stated that she was not present during the occurrence of the threats. The Democratic legislator mentioned that she was engaged in a phone call with one of her staff members when the suspect insisted on meeting her.
“She said that this man had come in and demanded immediately, just said, ‘I demand, I want to see (Cleare), and if I don’t get to see her, I’m going to shoot this office up, I’m going to bomb the place, and remarks similar to that,” Cleare recalled.
After winning the presidential election, Donald Trump’s victory prompted the suspect to remark, “Things are going to change now.”
“He made some disparaging remarks about President Biden and Vice President Harris,” Cleare added.
Dergachev, a self-proclaimed Trump supporter, is currently facing a range of charges including making terroristic threats, threatening mass harm, third-degree menacing, and second-degree harassment.
The incident was condemned by the state legislature’s Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Caucus in a statement.
“Regardless of political affiliation or preferred candidates, there is absolutely no room for threats or violence in our public discourse,” the caucus said. “It is incumbent upon every leader, who holds a federal or local office, to set a positive example for all constituents by promoting respectful dialogue and fostering a culture of nonviolence.”