Charges Filed Over Threats Against Rep. Rhonda Fields

DENVER (AP) - A man accused of threatening a Colorado lawmaker sponsoring gun control bills has been charged.

Franklin Sain, 42, was charged Monday with attempting to influence a public servant, a felony, as well as harassment-ethnic intimidation, a misdemeanor, for emails, voicemails and a letter sent to Democratic Rep. Rhonda Fields.

Denver prosecutors allege the 42-year-old, who is white, tried to intimidate or harass Fields because she is black.

Sain was suspended from his job as chief operating officer of an information technology firm following his arrest in the case.

He allegedly sent Fields a letter saying "There will be blood" and expressing hope that someone would "Gifords" her, an apparent reference to the shooting that wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Sain's attorney has said he's being retaliated against for expressing constitutionally-protected political speech.

Sain has been released from custody on a $30,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Friday to be advised of the charges.

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