Full Breakdown
Delaware County Man Arrested After Antisemitic Arson Threats Toward Gov. Josh Shapiro
7/11/2026, 1:15:39 AM
Arrest and Alleged Threats
On Tuesday, July 7, 2026, Richard John Franklin, 65, of Brookhaven, visited the district office of State Rep. Leanne Krueger seeking assistance with an unexpected $19 tax bill. While a staff member attempted to help him complete a waiver form, police say Franklin became irate, used antisemitic slurs directed at Governor Josh Shapiro, and threatened to set fire to the governor’s mansion. He was taken into custody without incident on July 8, 2026, and charged with terroristic threats, ethnic intimidation, harassment, and disorderly-conduct offenses. Bail was set at $100,000, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 16, 2026, at 9 a.m. in Delaware County Court.
Background & Prior Violence
Governor Shapiro, a Democrat and one of the nation’s most prominent Jewish elected officials, survived a separate arson attack on his Harrisburg residence in April 2025. An intruder used Molotov cocktails on the first night of Passover, prompting a guilty plea from Cody Balmer and a 25-to-50-year prison sentence. In response to a rise in ideologically motivated threats—including a May 2026 “hit list” targeting 20 Democratic lawmakers—Pennsylvania State Police created a Political Violence Threat Unit in May 2026 to investigate and deter such conduct.
Key Figures
- Richard John Franklin – Delaware County resident arrested for the alleged threats.
- Josh Shapiro – Governor of Pennsylvania, target of the threats.
- Leanne Krueger – State Representative whose district office was the site of the incident.
- Sgt. Logan Brouse – Communications director for the Pennsylvania State Police Political Violence Threat Unit.
- Nicole Reigelman – Spokesperson for House Speaker Joanna McClinton.
- Leroy Franklin – Richard’s 72-year-old brother, who disputes the police account.
Official Statements & Responses
State Police emphasized that “the agency takes threats against the lives of public officials seriously,” noting the Political Violence Threat Unit’s role in addressing the “growing amount of ideologically motivated violence against elected officials.” House Speaker Joanna McClinton’s office warned that “threats of political violence are becoming commonplace, and every incident must be treated with the seriousness it deserves.”
Criticism & Opposition
Critics of the growing threat environment argue that heightened policing may chill legitimate dissent, while advocates stress the necessity of protecting elected officials from violence. The statements from both the police and the Speaker’s office underscore a consensus that intimidation undermines democratic discourse.
On-the-Ground Reports
Leroy Franklin, who accompanied his brother to Rep. Krueger’s office, told reporters that Richard “never threatened the governor” and that he “didn’t hear his brother use an antisemitic slur.” He described the police narrative as “a bit extreme, to put it mildly.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Police records indicate Franklin admitted to using an ethnic slur and characterizing his arson remarks as “sympathetic and positive in nature because the Governor and his family survived the previous arson.” By contrast, Leroy Franklin maintains his brother made no such threats. No attorney for Richard Franklin is listed in court filings, leaving a gap in the defense perspective.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I guess I’ll pay that Jew. That Jew needs the money more than me” — Richard John Franklin (as reported by staff)
- “I’d like to burn down his [expletive] mansion with him in it.” — Richard John Franklin (as reported by staff)
- “PSP takes threats against the lives of public officials seriously — that's why the department has formed a dedicated unit to address the growing amount of ideologically motivated violence against elected officials.” — Sgt. Logan Brouse
- “ “Healthy democracies depend on robust debate and respectful disagreement — not threats, intimidation, or violence,“ Reigelman added.” — Nicole Reigelman, House Speaker’s office
- “He made an admission to using the ethnic slur and related the statement(s) he made about the Governor's mansion were sympathetic and positive in nature because the Governor and his family survived the previous arson,” — Pennsylvania State Police report
What’s Next
Richard John Franklin remains in Delaware County Prison pending his July 16, 2026 preliminary hearing. The Political Violence Threat Unit continues to monitor and investigate threats against Pennsylvania officials.
