Federal prosecutors in Manhattan said Thompson was behind threats placed to eight Jewish Community Centers between January 28 and February 22. Authorities claim Thompson did it as part of a revenge plot to frame an ex-girlfriend.
Thompson used to work for The Intercept, but the publication reportedly terminated him for using fake quotes in an article and lied on his resume.
Thompson’s threats were merely a small fraction of several waves of similar calls placed to Jewish organizations around the world since January. Israeli authorities eventually apprehended a 19-year-old man who is accused of orchestrating the vast majority of the threats. That suspect did not appear to have any connection to Thompson.
[Image via BRIC-TV screengrab]