Jackson County Man Pleads Guilty To Threatening U.S. Senator

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – On October 6, 2025, Wyatt Austin Salus, 26, of Cullowee, N.C., appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge W. Carleton Metcalf and pleaded guilty to making interstate threats to kill and injure United States Senator Thom Tillis, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Michael G. Sullivan of the United States Capitol Police (USCP), join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.

According to filed plea documents and the plea hearing, on March 17, 2025, Salus called Senator Tillis’s office and left a message threatening to injure and kill Senator Tillis. In his message, Salus communicated a number of threats, including threatening to run over Senator Tillis with his car. Salus also said in his message that Senator Tillis “should not feel safe in North Carolina,” adding, “I will kill you if I see you.”

“Threats of violence against a United States Senator are unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “We will continue to work with the FBI and our law enforcement partners to identify and hold accountable anyone who seeks to intimidate or harm a public official.”

“It is deplorable to make violent threats against anyone. But when threats are directed at elected officials, it can impact their ability to effectively serve their constituents. The FBI will not tolerate this type of intimidation, especially when threats are directed at those elected to lead our country,” said Special Agent in Charge Barnacle.

“This is just another example of how the United States Capitol Police work around the clock to hold people accountable for threatening the Members of Congress,” said USCP Chief Sullivan. “I am proud of our men and women who work with our partners to enforce our zero-tolerance stance against threats. Political violence must stop.”

The maximum penalty for the charge Salus pleaded guilty to is five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing date has not been set.

The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the United States Capitol Police. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville is prosecuting the case.