Jim McDermott McDermott told investigators he brought a shovel to work in self defense.
Jim McDermott told investigators he brought a shovel to work in self defense. Kelly O

Jesus. Seattle P.I. :

A Seattle man accused of threatening to cut out U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott’s tongue now faces felony charges.

King County prosecutors claim Jasper K. Bell made the threat because he was upset that McDermott, D-Seattle, was supporting Hilary Clinton for president. Currently jailed, Bell, 27, has been charged with intimidating a public servant and telephone harassment.

Bell had been fixated on McDermott for some time before the April 22 incident that saw him charged, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Susan Storey said in court paper. Bell is alleged to have made threatening calls to McDermott before arriving at his Seattle office that day.

McDermott is a superdelegate supporting Clinton. "Bell told police he was angry that a supporter of presidential candidate Bernie Sanders had been arrested earlier in the day at McDermott’s office," the P.I. reports. In response, McDermott canceled a public appearance and kept a shovel "hidden behind several flags" for self-defense.