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Local man charged with threatening Obama

11:35 PM EDT on Friday, August 8, 2008

By MICHELLE BOUDIN / NewsChannel 36
E-mail Michelle: MBoudin@WCNC.com

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- An Indian Trail accountant is in jail, charged with threatening to kill senator and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

According to court documents, Jerry Blanchard called Sen. Obama the anti-Christ and said, "If he gets elected, we have a problem."

Then according to the federal affidavit, Blanchard, a father of two teenage daughters, spells out his plan -- all while sitting in the Pineville-Matthews Road Waffle House.

Jerry Blanchard

Secret Service agents say Blanchard told two others eating at the restaurant on July 15 he planned to buy a handgun from Hyatt's Gunshop on Wilkinson Boulevard. He also planned to buy a rifle and a laser scope, saying "I’m worth $50 million. Obama and his wife are never going to make it to the White House. He needs to be taken out... that man will never know what hit him... I just may do that, I’ve got the money and the clout."

Two weeks later, a third person reportedly called Secret Service agents saying he too had heard Blanchard making similar threats. This time it was atUptown's Crowne Plaza Hotel, where Blanchard again mentioned the handgun and rifle, and again called the presidential candidate the anti-Christ, according to documents.

Blanchard's attorney says his client denies ever making any of those statements. The court documents also show Blanchard's friends and family told Secret Service agents he suffered head injuries that caused mental health and alcohol problems.

NewsChannel 36 spoke with Blanchard's attorney, who confirmed his client did suffer a concussion from a fall and a judge has ordered him to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. For now, he remains in the Mecklenburg County jail.