Elijah Manley, a former Democratic candidate for U.S. House District 20 in the August primary, faces charges stemming from two posts made on his Facebook account that were reported to the Broward Sheriff’s Office’s Threat Management Unit, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Manley, a 27-year-old Fort Lauderdale native and frequent unsuccessful Democratic candidate, turned himself in at the Broward County jail on Friday afternoon in connection with a warrant written Oct. 13. He faces two second-degree felony counts of written threats to kill.

Someone reported the posts to the Threat Management Unit on Aug. 21, according to the affidavit, which was a few days after Manley was one of three candidates defeated by U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, in the primary. The name of the person who reported the posts and the names of two people who the posts were directed toward are redacted in the affidavit.

A detective wrote in the affidavit that Manley’s posts appeared to be part of “a disagreement over a political candidate and their differing positions on the candidate.”

Former congressional candidate Elijah Manley jailed on felony charges related to social media post

One of Manley’s alleged posts read: “I’m talking to yall. I saw yall comments earlier. I’m already pissed off, do not piss me off more. I swear to god, take me to war over this Black woman and I promise yall I will burn y’all [expletive] castle to the ground and anyone else in my way,” the affidavit said.

The reporting person told the detective he or she believed the reference of “castle” meant his or her home, the affidavit said. The reporting person also shared other messages from Manley’s account that showed “ongoing threats,” including one that read, apparently in support of a candidate whose name is redacted in the document: “This the type [s—] that will make me snap … I promise you I will make your life a living hell to the very end. You better line up behind the Democratic nominee like we always do.”

Manley also allegedly wrote: “Every Democrat needs to get behind the Democratic nominee for Senate. Anybody not doing that, I promise you I’m going to cut your f—— head off,” according to the affidavit.

WLRN reported that comment was related to a post in support of Democratic Senate candidate state Rep. Angie Nixon, who faces Republican U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody in the Nov. 3 election. Manley told WLRN the situation is a “serious First Amendment issue” and indicated that he may pursue legal action.

A detective called Manley, who “verified” that he made the posts, the affidavit said. Manley told the detective that the messages were political comments meant to “challenge” the person’s political opinion and were “not an actual statement of intended harm.”

Manley told the detective he previously had interacted with both of the people whom the posts were directed toward, and the interactions were cordial despite differences in their political beliefs, the affidavit said.

The detective wrote in the affidavit that some of Manley’s followers “requested that he tone down the rhetoric,” to which he replied, “I’m not toning anything down. I’m tired of being told tone my voice while white people get away with destroying everything. I want all white people to vote for the Democratic nominee.”

Manley has not yet entered a plea to the charges. His defense attorney did not respond to an email seeking comment after business hours Monday.

Manley was released from jail after posting bail on a $40,000 bond, court records show. Manley is on standard pre-trial release, which prohibits him from possessing any weapons or ammunition. He is also not allowed to post on social media or contact the alleged victims.

Information from WLRN was used in this report.