Minneapolis man sentenced to five months in federal prison for threatening to kill a U.S. congresswoman
Sentence follows voicemail threat left with congressional office
A Minneapolis man has been sentenced in federal court to five months in prison after admitting he threatened to kill a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a case that authorities said began with a single voicemail left at a congressional office.
Michael Paul Lewis, 53, of Minneapolis, was sentenced to a five-month term of imprisonment followed by one year of supervised release. The conviction was for one count of threatening to murder a United States official. Court records show the threat was made on March 26, 2025, when Lewis called the office of a U.S. congresswoman and left a voicemail threatening to kill her.
How the case unfolded
Investigators later went to Lewis’ apartment to interview him. In court filings, Lewis is described as having admitted to making the call when approached by law enforcement.
The identity of the targeted congresswoman has not been publicly disclosed in the federal case materials released to date.
Date of threat: March 26, 2025
Charge of conviction: threatening to murder a United States official
Sentence: five months in federal prison and one year of supervised release
Investigating agencies: FBI and U.S. Capitol Police
Why the judge imposed prison time
At sentencing, the court weighed the seriousness of threats against elected officials and the need for deterrence. The presiding judge rejected a request for a probationary sentence, citing the gravity of threatening violence against a public official and the broader impact such threats can have on the public sphere.
The sentencing record reflects a focus on accountability for threats directed at public officials and the consequences that can follow even when a threat is made in a brief communication.
Sentencing context and next steps
In the federal proceedings, both sides sought a below-guidelines sentence, describing the threat as an impulsive, isolated act and arguing that Lewis did not intend to carry it out. The court ultimately imposed a custodial term but set it below the guideline range discussed during the hearing.
Lewis is required to report to federal authorities to begin serving his sentence on May 12, 2026. Conditions of supervised release include an additional period of home detention, as ordered by the court.
The case was prosecuted in the District of Minnesota, and the investigation was carried out jointly by federal law enforcement agencies responsible for addressing threats involving members of Congress.