Dayton, Ohio – A 60-year-old man from Dayton admitted in federal court this week to threatening the life of a sitting U.S. Congressman. Jeffery Dorsey, formerly of Columbus, pleaded guilty to making interstate communications containing a threat to injure.
According to court documents, the disturbing threat occurred when Dorsey called the congressman’s main office line and left a voicemail that included a direct and vulgar death threat tied to potential cuts in Medicaid. In the message, Dorsey stated, “If you vote to take my f***ing Medicaid away, I’m gonna cut your fing head off…But I tell you this, clearly to your brain, if you f*** with my Medicaid, you’re a dead f***.”
The alarming message led to a federal investigation and ultimately resulted in Dorsey’s arrest in July 2025. Authorities moved swiftly, citing the serious nature of the threat and its implications for public officials and their safety.
The plea was announced by Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, along with Adam Lawson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cincinnati Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders.
Dorsey now faces federal sentencing, though a sentencing date has not yet been announced. The charge of making an interstate threat to injure is a serious offense that underscores how threats, even when made over the phone or electronically, are treated with the full weight of the law.
The guilty plea comes amid growing concerns about threats against public officials, especially those tied to hot-button policy issues. In this case, the proposed changes to Medicaid appeared to trigger the man’s reaction. The authorities made clear that while disagreements over policy are expected in a democratic system, resorting to violence or threatening harm crosses a clear legal and moral line.
Federal law enforcement emphasized their ongoing commitment to protecting elected representatives and maintaining the integrity of democratic debate without intimidation or fear. With Dorsey’s admission of guilt now on record, the court will next consider the appropriate penalty for the felony charge.
