Robert Davis Forney, a 25-year-old resident of Duluth, Georgia, was arraigned in Atlanta before a United States Magistrate Judge. He faces federal charges for allegedly communicating threats across state lines. The indictment was issued by a federal grand jury from the Northern District of Georgia on June 10, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg emphasized the gravity of the situation: “Threatening our elected officials and their families is an act of violence that undermines our entire democracy,” he stated. He further remarked that political disagreements do not justify such attacks against national leaders.
FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown also commented on the seriousness of the crime: “Targeting public officials with threatening messages is a serious federal crime,” he said. “There is no place for political violence or threats of violence in the United States."
The charges detail that on January 9, 2025, Forney called Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz's office twice, leaving voicemails threatening sexual violence against both Senator Cruz and his family. On January 10, Forney allegedly left another voicemail with similar threats directed at Nebraska U.S. Senator Deb Fischer.
It is important to note that an indictment contains only charges; Forney remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, which aims to combat illegal immigration and eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bret R. Hobson and Brent Alan Gray are handling the prosecution, with investigations conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Capitol Police.
For additional information, contact can be made through the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office via email at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or phone at (404) 581-6280.