Lenoir City man sentenced to prison for threatening congressman

By Jamie Satterfield knoxnews.com

 

KNOXVILLE — A Lenoir City man was sentenced today to 13 months in federal prison for making threats against U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor and his family.

U.S. District Judge Tom Varlan approved at a hearing this morning a plea deal that netted Glendon Llewellyn Swift, 63, the 14-month prison term.

Swift's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Jonathan Moffatt, told Varlan that Swift was drunk and grieving the recent death of his wife when, last October, he phoned Cantor's Virginia office.

Court records state Swift left two voicemails replete with "screaming and ranting of profanities."

In one call, Swift said, "Let me tell you something, you Republican (expletive), you (expletive, expletive) Jew. I am going to destroy you. ... How about if I rape your daughter? How about if I come into your house and kill your wife, Jew boy?"

Swift admitted the calls when the FBI showed up on his doorstep days later.

Swift has already served eight months awaiting today's sentencing. Varlan ordered him to undergo treatment for alcohol abuse and mental health issues.