Syracuse, N.Y. — Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is seeking $66,632 from a Broome County man who pleaded guilty to sending threatening voicemails to her.
The money would cover more than 1,200 feet of fencing installed at Greene’s Georgia home, plus work on security cameras.
Joseph F. Morelli pleaded guilty in February to leaving the congresswoman seven voicemails on March 3 and 4, 2022 describing how he would hurt her. He made the calls from his home in Endicott near Binghamton. He was scheduled to be sentenced in Syracuse federal court today, but that’s now been delayed until Tuesday.
Greene is now seeking restitution money for the fence and repositioning and reconfiguring of CCTV cameras at her home, according to federal court filings.
That includes 1,239 feet of chain-link and spear-top fencing, barbwire, brick columns, cement posts and gates, according to an invoice by the fencing company filed in court.
The fence cost $65,257.49 and was installed March 24, more than a year after the threats. The fencing company billed Greene in February. It was paid for with the congresswoman’s campaign money, according to court filings. The camera work was $1,375 and was done in October.
Greene is arguing in court papers that the expenses were a direct result of Morelli’s threats. Prosecutors in documents noted Greene’s staff said that she receives occasional threats but Morelli’s was the “straw that broke the camel’s back” and spurned the security measures.
Morelli’s federal public defense lawyer is attempting to block Greene’s restitution request.
In court documents, the lawyer Gabrielle DiBella said that Morelli’s threats were not the clear reason for her to make the security upgrades.
The lawyer noted that Greene has previously admitted that she received death threats often and that there was a long gap between Morelli’s threats and the security improvements.
“Given Congresswoman Greene’s documented controversial public profile, which includes advocating for political violence and spreading mis/dis-information to the voting public, all with the intent to create divisiveness within the populace, her security expenditures and Mr. Morelli’s conduct are far too attenuated for this Court to grant her restitution request,” DiBella said in court documents.
DiBella cited a news release Greene sent to media in December that said “Every day, I receive violent threats against my life” and reports that her home was swatted a sixth time in October.
She also cited an analysis of campaign funds from the New York Times that showed Greene had spent almost $183,000 on security between January and May 2022, more than any other political candidate during that time.
“Mr. Morelli is not legally responsible for the threats of others, and he cannot be made an example of for the threats of others,” DiBella said in court papers. “There is an abundance of evidence which demonstrates that Congresswoman Greene has continued to be threatened after Mr. Morelli’s conduct, and he is not responsible for these expenses solely because he was the only person who was prosecuted.”
DiBella noted in court papers that Morelli lives on Social Security benefits.
Prosecutors said the security measures take time and labor to install, which accounts for the time gap between Morelli’s threats and the improvements.
U.S. Chief District Judge Brenda Sannes will decide whether Morelli will have to pay restitution.
Editor’s note: This story updated on Thursday to report the sentencing has been delayed until Aug. 8.
Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him: Email | Twitter or at 315-690-6950.