TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – A man in an attempt to threaten to kill US Rep. Jake LaTurner cross-examined the Kansas Republican in federal court, with the congressman rejecting the defendant’s suggestion that he sent a message from God.
LaTurner was the last prosecution witness in the trial of Chase Neill, 32, of the northeastern Kansas city of Lawrence. Prosecutors contend that Neill, who represented himself in court, focused on LaTurner and then made threats in a phone message on June 5 after hours at LaTurner’s office in Topeka.
The trial comes amid what authorities say have been threats against state lawmakers over the past two years. LaTurner testified that he increased security at his Topeka office and home in response to Neill’s message because he was concerned about the safety of his family and staff.
Neill suggested Wednesday during cross-examination of a prosecution witness that he believed he was a “religious heir” who told LaTurner to follow the tradition of the prophets of the Old Testament after the task of speaking for God and acting as if God himself. In LaTurner’s question, Neill asked if it was enough for Neill to identify himself in the voicemail as a son of God.
“I thought the whole voicemail was unreasonable, especially the death threat part,” LaTurner replied.
In a June voicemail message, Neill said he had contacted LaTurner’s office before about whether Congress should pursue issues involving witchcraft, divination, sorcerers and “beings.”
Threats against members of Congress have increased since the January 6, 2021, uprising in the US Capitol. In October, an intruder beat the husband of former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a hammer in their San Francisco home.
Local school board members and election workers across the state have also experienced harassment and threats. Police in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this week arrested a former Republican legislative candidate in connection with several shots fired at the homes or offices of elected Democratic officials, though no one was injured.
Neill admitted he left a voicemail message in June to LaTurner saying, “I said I’m going to kill you,” but said using the word “act of God” in the same message meant he was sending a message from God, not himself.
While LaTurner testified that he thought Neill used some “nonsense talk,” he focused on the death threats. He received anonymous written threats in the mailbox at his Topeka home in early 2021, when he was running for Congress.
As for “words from God, LaTurner told Neill: “I thought it meant more nefarious, that there will be an attempt to kill me and will not be detected.”
Neill’s questioning of LaTurner was strange, with a clean-shaven LaTurner sitting on the witness stand in a dark suit and a bearded Neill at the attorney’s podium in khaki pants, a blue jacket and a shirt without a tie. Neill had a Bible with him at the podium.
LaTurner’s cross-examination ended quickly after an objection from the prosecutor to a question to the congressman, “Do you believe that God has the right to punish people?”
A US judge said in an August order refusing to release Neill from custody that Neill had suffered a head injury four or five years ago “characterized as a head fracture.” But Teeter concluded during a hearing last month that Neill was able to follow what was happening in court and help his attorney, making him mentally fit to stand trial.
Twice in the past week, Neill has asked to represent himself, withdrawing one plea before a federal court jury was selected Tuesday. He said Wednesday in court that he was portrayed as a “false Christ,” damaging his reputation.
Teeter accepted the request twice, because he had the right to represent himself and he was able to do so adequately, even though he had no legal training as a high school graduate with some college education. The judge warned Neill repeatedly Wednesday that he thought he could not represent himself, but he persisted.
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