Conservative media personality Candace Owens is safe following the FBI’s arrest of a New Jersey man, Haim Braverman, who allegedly planned to murder her over remarks she made during a televised debate last year.
The New York Post and other outlets confirm that Braverman was taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a serious threat to Owens and her family.
The arrest stems from an escalating series of threats Owens says began after her appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored in September 2024, during which she debated Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and made comments that allegedly offended followers of the late Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, a revered figure in Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidism.
“The motive of the crime was made clear to me by the FBI today,” Owens wrote on X. “Haim wanted to murder me because of my @piersmorgan debate against Shmuley… He was unequivocal that he was willing to serve time in prison for killing me.”
Chilling Threats and Group Chats
Braverman allegedly shared his violent intentions in a private online group chat titled “Real Jewish”, according to court documents.
He posted disturbing images of knives, stun guns, and steel bats, and reportedly uploaded a video threatening Owens, referred to as “Individual-1” in the federal complaint.
“If I could fking kill you right now, I would… I’d kill you. Dead,” he allegedly stated while holding a bat in one of the videos.
In a written message, Braverman reportedly wrote:
“[Individual-1] needs to be killed.”
Though Owens was not mentioned by name in all communications, the FBI concluded that she was the intended target of the threats, prompting swift legal action.
Owens Blasts DOJ for Lack of Transparency
In a lengthy social media thread, Owens shared that her family experienced harassment and intimidation for months before authorities provided her with any details.
She accused the Department of Justice of withholding information about the investigation and failing to post Braverman’s mugshot or fully disclose the case progress.
“Where is his mugshot photo? And who else was in the group chat?” Owens asked on X. “According to the DOJ’s email to me, Haim Braverman is being charged with interstate communications for ransom.”
Owens also claimed that Braverman had already pleaded guilty, though she had not been formally informed until she received a “victim packet” in the mail in March. She expressed ongoing concern about how the DOJ has handled the situation, citing what she describes as a lack of transparency and failure to protect potential victims in a timely manner.
Braverman is expected to be sentenced in September.
He faces federal charges of interstate communications with intent to threaten or extort, though it remains unclear whether additional members of the group chat will be investigated or charged.
