A 65-year-old Brookhaven Borough man has been charged with terroristic threats and ethnic intimidation after an incident at a state legislative office on July 7, 2026, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Richard John Franklin is accused of making threats against Governor Josh Shapiro while visiting the 161st Legislative District Office of State Representative Leanne Krueger on East Brookhaven Road at approximately 2:45 p.m., police say. According to the release, Franklin had gone to the office to contest or seek assistance regarding his outstanding taxes. Police say Franklin used an antisemitic ethnic slur while communicating a threat of arson to the Governor's mansion while speaking with a staff member who was attempting to assist him. Members of the Political Violence Threat Unit contacted Franklin at his residence the following day, on July 8, 2026. According to the release, Franklin provided multiple inconsistent accounts of what occurred at the district office but admitted to using the ethnic slur. Police say he claimed the statements he made about the Governor's mansion were sympathetic and positive in nature because the Governor and his family survived a previous arson. Franklin was taken into custody without incident and charged with terroristic threats (F3), ethnic intimidation (F3), threats and other improper influence in official and political matters (M2), harassment (M3), and disorderly conduct (summary offense).