Bomb threat targets local cafe owner for anti-Trump comment after legislator post

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is rushed offstage during a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

A Facebook post presumably from the owner of a Brooks restaurant about the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump last weekend sparked a flurry of pushback on social media after it was shared by a sitting legislator and other conservatives. Then a bomb threat was called in.

Maine State Police were notified about an emailed threat directed at Ralph’s Cafe just after 11 a.m. Tuesday, according to a news release from the Department of Public Safety. The bomb unit responded to the building, which was not open for business at the time. No explosives were found. The threat was deemed a hoax.

State police did not confirm in the release whether the threat was tied a Facebook post, which was attributed to Ralph’s owner Frank Champa that read, “Hey guy with the bad aim. You had one job.” The post isn’t visible to the public, but a screenshot was circulated drawing an outpouring of replies from cafe patrons and community members chastising Champa’s statement.

One such post came from state Rep. Shelley Rudnicki (R-Fairfield), who late Sunday shared a screenshot of Champa’s post, asking her friends in the Brooks area if they think it’s acceptable. Rudnicki identified Champa as the owner of Ralph’s and wrote, “Let’s make him famous.”

Rudnicki’s post was reshared nearly 180 times and received dozens of comments.

Screenshots of Champa’s post have circulated on Facebook, but Maine Morning Star could not independently verify the post since it’s not public on his page and attempts to reach Champa and Ralph’s Cafe were not answered. Rudnicki also did not respond to requests for comment.

The post and subsequent threat come amid calls for unity from Republicans across the nation. Maine Republicans have amplified that message , specifically saying that Democrats should stop using extreme rhetoric when talking about the threats posed by another Trump presidency. However, they have also cast blame on President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign and Democrats’ characterizations of Trump for the recent shooting — though the motivations of the shooter have not yet been determined.

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The post Bomb threat targets local cafe owner for anti-Trump comment after legislator post appeared first on Maine Morning Star .