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Rep. Jared Moskowitz says authorities are investigating a possible plot against his life after the arrest of an armed man

Rep. Jared Moskowitz says authorities are investigating a possible plot against his life after the arrest of an armed man



CNN

Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz said Friday that local police in his Florida district alerted him to a “potential plot” against his life and told him an armed man had been arrested not far from his home.

“The day before the election, I was informed by the Margate Police Department, located in my congressional district, of a possible plot on my life,” the congressman said in a statement. “The person in question was arrested not far from my house; he is a former felon who owned a gun, a suppressor and body armor.

“A manifesto was found on him that included anti-Semitic rhetoric and only my name on the ‘target’ list,” said Moskowitz, who is Jewish. He noted that he did not want to share further details to avoid interfering with the investigation.

The Margate Police Department said in a news release Friday that it arrested John Lapinski, 41, on Nov. 2 for “possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and other firearm-related charges.”

During the investigation, agents also found “several firearms and evidence indicating he may have been planning some criminal act,” according to the news release, which did not specifically name the congressman.

CNN could not immediately identify an attorney for Lapinski.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is leading the ongoing investigation into the incident, police said.

CNN has contacted the ATF, the US Capitol Police, the US Marshals Service and the Department of Justice. The FBI declined to comment.

Moskowitz, who was re-elected on Tuesday to represent Florida’s 23rd District, said in his statement that he is “deeply concerned” for the safety of members of Congress.

“As someone who was appointed to the Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump, I understand the failures and the importance of restoring protections to our current and future Commander in Chief and Vice President,” Moskowitz said . “At the same time, I am deeply concerned about the safety of Members of Congress and the significant lack thereof while we are in the District. Regardless of our political leanings or differences, we all have families we want to keep safe.”

CNN’s Holmes Lybrand and Manu Raju contributed to this report.