Ohio Bartender Charged With Threatening to Murder John Boehner

The man also said the House speaker was responsible for Ebola.

ByABC News
January 13, 2015, 6:30 PM

— -- An Ohio man has been indicted on charges of threatening to murder House Speaker John Boehner, ABC News has learned.

Michael Robert Hoyt was indicted Jan. 7 on charges of threatening to murder Boehner last October shortly after he was dismissed from his job as a bartender, according to an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint and arrest warrant. According to the complaint, Hoyt had previously been "treated for a psychotic episode" and was prescribed medication, which he "voluntarily stopped taking."

According to the complaint, Hoyt, 44, was dismissed from his job as a bartender at Wetherington Country Club in West Chester, Ohio. He allegedly told police that he was fired before he was able to have an opportunity to "put something in John Boehner's drink."

Hoyt told officers that he often poured drinks for Boehner and could have put something in his drink, because nobody every checked the drinks. He admitted to telling a Deer Park police officer that he “needed to kill” Boehner, although he later told investigators that he had no intention of hurting himself, Boehner or anyone else.

But in an email sent October 28, 2014 to Boehner’s wife, Hoyt wrote: “If I had any intention of hurting Mr. Boehner I could have poisoned his wine at Wetherington, many many times.”

Boehner, R-Ohio, was interviewed by authorities on October 31 at his residence. He told investigators that he knew Hoyt as the bartender at Wetherington, but did not recall any negative interactions with Hoyt.

Hoyt told authorities that he had worked at Wetherington, where Boehner is a member, for approximately the past five and a half years. He also told the officers that he was Jesus Christ, believed Boehner “is the devil” and threatened to kill Boehner "because Boehner was mean to him at the country club and because Boehner is responsible for Ebola," according to the complaint.

"Speaker Boehner is aware of this situation, and sincerely thanks the FBI, the Capitol Police, and local authorities in Ohio for their efforts," Boehner spokesperson Michael Steel said in a statement.

The complaint states that Hoyt was fired for having a “bad attitude at work” and several club members complained about him. Hoyt told investigators that he believes Boehner and other members of the country club got him fired.

Hoyt was previously treated for a psychotic episode approximately two years ago, according to the complaint. He was prescribed psychotropic medication, although he decided to stop taking them after about six months.