April 08, 2019 - 1:51 PM
BANGOR, Maine - A Maine woman appeared in court on Monday to face federal charges of mailing a threatening letter to the home of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins last year.
An affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Bangor said Suzanne Muscara, 37, of Burlington, mailed starch to the Republican senator's Bangor home along with a note reading: "AnthRAX!!! HA HA HA!!!" The letter also included a threatening drawing of a stick figure with the letter X for eyes and an arrow pointing at its face.
The mail was intercepted at a postal mail sorting facility in Hampden, Maine, triggering an investigation. Muscara was arrested Friday.
According to court documents, Muscara told federal authorities she thought law enforcement would catch the letter before it reached Collins' home and that it wouldn't be taken seriously, WABI-TV reported . It was not clear if Muscara had a lawyer who could comment on her behalf.
The mailing came after Collins cast a key vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and shortly after she received another threatening letter at home that was addressed to her husband.
Muscara is expected to return to court next week. She faces up to 10 years in prison.
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This story has been corrected to say Muscara is charged with sending the letter to Collins' home, not to Collins' husband.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019