FBI arrests extremist plotting Texas Capitol attack
Extremist planned armed assault on Texas State Capitol, arrested at home by SWAT team.
2 min read
A lone-wolf extremist plotted a violent attack on the Texas State Capitol before being arrested by law enforcement at his home, authorities revealed Thursday. Benny Caldera Jr., 40, was taken into custody by Texas DPS SWAT officers at 3 a.m. Wednesday at his residence in Converse, just outside San Antonio. The arrest followed a tip that Caldera was planning to carry out a deadly assault on the statehouse in Austin.
Chilling farewell message
Before his arrest, an unnerved friend of Caldera’s told investigators that the suspect had sent a chilling farewell message: “I love you, if you don’t see me again … I am going to the Capitol and I am going to shoot it up.” Arrest documents also state that Caldera told his friend he was angry at AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) and that “these people have to be exterminated,” according to NBCDFW.
Previous legal troubles
The suspect was initially charged with making a terroristic threat against a public servant and held on a $75,000 bond. By Wednesday evening, Caldera was taken into federal custody. Records show this wasn’t his first run-in with law enforcement; he was previously arrested in 2023 for carrying an unlicensed firearm.
Political fallout
The suspect’s anti-AIPAC rhetoric has drawn attention to the growing political attacks against the pro-Israel group. Prominent figures from both sides of the political spectrum have targeted AIPAC, with far-Left lawmakers like Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), along with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), leading a fierce smear campaign. House Democrats like Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin also criticized the group, while former endorsers like Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Governor Gavin Newsom publicly renounced its support.
Anti-AIPAC sentiment spans the political spectrum
On the Right, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has floated conspiracy theories and pushed a bill to force AIPAC to register as a foreign agent, a stance echoed by former Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Matt Gaetz (R-FL). Federal filings show that AIPAC’s lobbying budget is modest compared to major Washington players, ranking 191st in federal lobbying spend in 2024 at $3.3 million, far behind tech giants, oil companies, and even beer distributors. Foreign nations like China and Saudi Arabia outspend Israeli-related lobbying by significant margins.
Source: Daily Wire
