A Wisconsin political activist who unsuccessfully ran for House Speaker Paul Ryan’s seat in the last two Republican primaries has been indicted on charges alleging that he tried to buy a lethal dose of radioactive material in order to kill someone.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Thursday that 30-year-old Jeremy Ryan has been formally charged with attempting to possess radioactive material with the intent to cause death of serious bodily harm. He is not related to Paul Ryan.
Jeremy Ryan has been in federal custody since his Oct. 24 arrest. His lawyer, Joseph Bugni, says he intended to use the material to commit suicide because he has cancer.
Stay informed on the latest news
Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.
The FBI says in an affidavit that Jeremy Ryan indicated his target was a 6-foot-2 male weighing 220 pounds. It didn’t name the target, but Bugni said in court last week that Ryan is roughly that height and weight.
© Copyright 2024 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
