DELAWARE COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — A Delaware County man was arrested Wednesday after he was accused of threatening to commit an act of arson at the governor’s mansion in Harrisburg.
Richard Franklin, 65, allegedly used an antisemitic slur while making the threat, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
Franklin reportedly made the threat Tuesday while he was at Rep. Leanne Krueger’s office in Brookhaven. Troopers say Franklin was speaking with a staff member about his outstanding taxes when he made the threat.
Troopers say Franklin provided “multiple inconsistent accounts” about what happened at the office.
“He made an admission to using the ethnic slur and related the statement(s) he made about the Governor’s mansion were sympathetic and positive in nature because the Governor and his family survived the previous arson,” the state police report reads.
The incident was investigated by state police’s new Political Violence Threat Unit, which was created in May after capitol security was not alerted of possible threats made against 20 lawmakers.
READ MORE | Pennsylvania State Police creates new unit to investigate threats of political violence
Gov. Josh Shapiro has been outspoken against faith and politically motivated violence since his family was targeted in an arson attack in 2025.
RELATED | ‘It’s made me a better man’: Gov. Shapiro, Pennsylvania mark 1 year since arson attack
Franklin faces felony charges of terroristic threats and ethnic intimidation.
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According to his docket, Franklin is in Delaware County Prison after being unable to post bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 16.