Federal Prosecutors: Bartender Threatened to Murder House Speaker John Boehner

Story by the Associated Press; curated by Oliver Darcy.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — An Ohio bartender with a history of psychiatric illness was indicted last week on a charge of threatening to murder House Speaker John Boehner, according to records made available Tuesday.

A grand jury indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Ohio on Jan. 7 identified the accused man as Michael R. Hoyt.

WASHINGTON (@AP) — Federal prosecutors in Ohio allege bartender threatened to kill House Speaker John Boehner.

— TheBlazeNOW (@TheBlazeNOW) January 13, 2015

A separate criminal complaint said Hoyt was fired last fall from his job serving drinks at a country club in West Chester, Ohio. In a conversation with a police officer shortly afterwards, Hoyt said that before leaving, he "did not have time to put something in John Boehner's drink," according to the complaint.

The court paper also said, "Hoyt told the officer he was Jesus Christ and that he was going to kill Boehner because Boehner was mean to him at the country club and because Boehner is responsible for Ebola."

Before heading to the White House today to meet with President Barack Obama, House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, tells reporters that the House of Representatives will pass a budget for the Department of Homeland Security but will block President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

According to the criminal complaint, Hoyt said he had a loaded Beretta .380 automatic pistol and he was going to shoot Boehner. Hoyt volunteered to be taken to a psychiatric hospital, and his weapon was confiscated.

Boehner's congressional district includes part of western Ohio.

A spokesman for Boehner, Michael Steel, said the speaker is "aware of the situation and sincerely thanks the FBI, the Capitol Police and the local authorities in Ohio for their efforts."

U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner listens as members of the House Republican leadership speak at a press conference at the U.S Capitol on January 13, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The Capitol Police could not be reached for immediate comment.

It was not clear why officials waited as long as they did to disclose the charge. The grand jury indictment is dated Jan. 7, but the incident referred to in the criminal complaint took place on Oct. 29 of last year.

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