Robert Davis Forney, a 25-year-old resident of Duluth, Georgia, was arraigned on federal charges for allegedly making threats in interstate commerce. The arraignment took place before a United States Magistrate Judge following his indictment by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia on June 10, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg emphasized the gravity of such actions: “Threatening our elected officials and their families is an act of violence that undermines our entire democracy. Political discourse and disagreements never justify resorting to vile attacks against our nation’s leaders.”
FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown stated, “Targeting public officials with threatening messages is a serious federal crime. There is no place for political violence or threats of violence in the United States. We will not hesitate to arrest and charge others who engage in similar criminal conduct.”
The charges relate to incidents on January 9, 2025, when Forney allegedly left voicemails threatening sexual violence against Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and his family. A day later, he reportedly left another voicemail with similar threats directed at Nebraska U.S. Senator Deb Fischer.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges; Forney is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, which focuses on combating illegal immigration and violent crime through resources from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bret R. Hobson and Brent Alan Gray are leading the prosecution, with investigations conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Capitol Police.
For additional information, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office via email at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or phone at (404) 581-6280. More details about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia can be found at http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
