Man who coughed on elderly person and said he had coronavirus is arrested as Justice Department reveals those who intentionally spread the virus could face terrorism charges
- Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen’s memo came as Pennsylvanian cops said they were charging a 57-year-old man with making terrorist threats
- North Middleton Township Police arrested Daniel Tabussi after he coughed on an elderly victim who was shopping at a Karns store during a seniors-only time
- The elderly man is recovering from pneumonia and had gone into the store wearing a medical face mask and gloves at the time of the incident on March 20
- On top of the terrorist threat charges, Tabussi has been charged with simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment
- Rosen’s memo to prosecutors and department leaders warned that they may run into ‘purposeful exposure and infection of others with COVID-19’
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The Justice Department’s number two senior official said that those who intentionally spread coronavirus could be charged with terrorist threats.
Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen’s Tuesday memo came on the same day that Pennsylvanian authorities announced that they were charging a 57-year-old man with terrorist threats for coughing on an elderly man.
North Middleton Township Police in Philadelphia have already charged 57-year-old Daniel Tabussi with making terrorist threats after he allegedly coughed on an elderly victim who was shopping at a Karns grocery store during a seniors-only time.
North Middleton Township Police charged 57-year-old Daniel Tabussi with making terroristic threats after he allegedly coughed on an elderly victim who was shopping at a Karns grocery store during a seniors-only time (stock)
The Justice Department announced that those who intentionally thread the virus could be charged with terroristic threats
The elderly citizen is recovering from pneumonia and had gone into the store wearing a medical face mask and gloves at the time of the incident on March 20, KTXS reports.
Police said the victim wore the items because they are at higher risk of contracting the coronavirus.
Tabussi is described as having deliberately coughed near the victim while mocking them at the store located on the 1700 block of Spring Road.
Authorities shared the man told the victim that he had COVID-19 on numerous occasions.
On top of the terroristic threat charges, Tabussi has been charged with simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment
On top of the terrorist threat charges, Tabussi has been charged with simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment.
Rosen’s memo to prosecutors and department leaders across the country warned that they may run into ‘purposeful exposure and infection of others with COVID-19.’
‘Because Coronavirus appears to meet the statutory definition of a ‘biological agent’… such acts potentially could implicate the Nation’s terrorism-related statutes,’ Rosen wrote, according to Politico. ‘Threats or attempts to use COVID-19 as a weapon against Americans will not be tolerated.’
Additionally, the Justice Department has also set up a task force to investigate cases of hoarding and price gouging.