An upstate New York man was arrested on Thursday and is accused of threatening Reps. Steve Scalise (R., La.) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R., Wash.) via voicemail.
"We are going to feed them lead. Make no mistake you will pay," the voicemail said, according to authorities.
The suspect is Carlos Bayon of Grand Island, the Times-Picayune reports. He was charged with interstate communication of a threat for threatening both members of Congress. Both voicemails were recorded June 3.
Law enforcement officials didn't confirm Scalise and Rodgers were the targets but Scalise spokeswoman Lauren Fine confirmed Scalise was one of the targets.
"Whip Scalise is grateful to law enforcement for their actions," Fine said. "He will never forget how their heroism saved his life and those of his colleagues last year. As he has said before, there is absolutely no place in our political discourse for violent threats."
Fox News reporter Chad Pergram tweeted that Rodgers was the second target.
Police arrest 63 yr-old Carlos Bayon & charge him with leaving threatening voicemails for Scalise & Hse GOP Conf Chair McMorris Rodgers. Scalise spox: Scalise is grateful to law enforcement..He will never forget how their heroism saved his life & those of his colleagues last year
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) August 2, 2018
Threats against Scalise are taken seriously after he was a victim of a June 2017 shooting where he and his fellow Republican congressmen were targeted at their baseball practice. The congressman was shot along with four others, but the secret service detail who was with Scalise was able to shoot and kill the gunman.
Fine said Scalie's office has no knowledge of Bayon and that the voicemail was received in his district office of Hammond. The messages were reported to the Capitol Police, which ultimately led to the FBI searching Bayon's home. U.S. Attorney James Kennedy Jr. said "very concerning" items were found at the home.
Kennedy was asked if Scalie's views on immigration were a possible motivation for Bayon's threats.
"I think that's a reasonable interpretation," Kennedy said. "We are convinced that this defendant's threats were credible."
The entire message Bayon sent to both members of Congress:
"Hey listen, this message is for you and the people that sent you there. You are taking ours, we are taking yours. Anytime, anywhere. We know where they are. We are not going to feed them sandwiches, we are going to feed them lead. Make no mistake you will pay. Ojo por ojo, diente por diente [Spanish for 'an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth']. That is our law and we are the majority. Have a good day."