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No charges for D.C. officer who allegedly threatened first lady

A police officer who allegedly threatened First Lady Michelle Obama, shown this week at the Democratic National Convention, will not be charged.
(Chuck Burton / Associated Press)
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WASHINGTON -- A District of Columbia police officer who allegedly made threatening remarks about First Lady Michelle Obama in July will not be prosecuted, according to the Secret Service.

Secret Service spokesman Edwin Donovan confirmed comments made earlier Thursday by D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier.

Speaking on all-news radio station WTOP’s “Ask The Chief” program Thursday morning, Lanier said the matter was now considered an “administrative investigation” within the department, WTOP said.

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D.C. police spokesman Paul Metcalf said that an “administrative investigation” was an internal inquiry to “determine if any department policy or procedures have been violated.” Metcalf would not comment on the facts pertaining to the ongoing investigation.

At the time of the alleged threats against the first lady, the unidentified officer in question was reassigned to administrative duty. Lanier said Thursday that the officer remains working in a “non-contact” capacity.

Metcalf confirmed in an email that the officer’s “police powers have been revoked” and that this will remain the case until the internal investigation is complete.

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The officer, who worked as a motorcycle escort for White House officials, allegedly said that he would shoot the first lady and then retrieved from his phone a picture of the firearm he said he would use, according to the Washington Post, which originally reported the story.

The comments were allegedly made during a discussion among several officers from the Special Operations Division about other threats against the Obama family.

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nation@latimes.com

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