Congressman Jared Moskowitz says police have arrested the suspect who planned to kill him

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Parkland, tweeted Friday afternoon that Margate police had previously arrested a man near his South Florida home for plotting to kill the congressman.

“The day before the election, I was informed by the Margate Police Department in my congressional district of a possible conspiracy on my life,” Moskowitz tweeted on X. “The individual in question was arrested not far from my home.”

The congressman said the arrested person was in possession of a “rifle, a silencer and body armor,” that he had “a manifesto” that “contained, among other things, anti-Semitic rhetoric and only listed my name on the 'target' list. “The suspect was not named.

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“It is a great honor to serve my constituents, but it has put my family in danger,” Moskowitz said in a social media post that included a statement about threats to his life and an arrest.

“I am deeply concerned about the safety and security of members of Congress and the significant lack thereof when we are in the District,” Moskowitz said in his statement. “Regardless of our political affiliation or differences, we all have families we want to protect.”

Moskowitz won re-election to his House seat on Tuesday, defeating his Republican challenger Joe Kaufman 52% to 48%. His district includes Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton. He is a former state legislator and director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

Margate Police have not released a statement in connection with the arrest.

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