Man arrested near Jayapal’s home charged with felony stalking

A man arrested outside the Seattle home of Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) earlier this month was charged Thursday with felony stalking.

The 49-year-old suspect, Brett Forsell, was arrested July 9 after threatening to kill the Washington state congresswoman. He had a .40 caliber Glock semi-automatic pistol loaded with a live round in his possession when he arrived at her residence late that night, according to prosecutors.

Jayapal alleged after the incident that Forsell had been stalking her for months, making threats against her life and hurling racial epithets. 

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says that Jayapal had been stalked in connection with her role as a congresswoman, according to documents obtained by The Hill. 

Senior Deputy Prosecutor Gary Ernsdorff wrote in the charging documents that Forsell continued to make remarks while in police custody about getting ahold of deadly weapons and returning to stalk Jayapal.  

“Those remarks demonstrate that he is focused on getting his Glock .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun back as quickly as possible and that he also plans to obtain an AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle. He also stated that he intends to continue his pattern of returning to Representative Jayapal’s house until, in his words, she ‘goes back to India,’” Ernsdorff wrote.

An Extreme Risk Protection order against Forsell remains in effect with the Seattle police, and he is now in jail on $500,000 bail.

“The news today from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s office that they have charged Mr. Forsell with felony stalking demonstrates that the justice system is doing its work,” Jayapal said in a statement Thursday.

Forsell is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment on Aug. 10, 2022.

After the arrest, Jayapal blamed former President Trump for stoking political violence.

The congresswoman claimed that Trump’s “Muslim ban,” his transgender military ban and his efforts to subvert the 2020 election results fostered anger and violence like that of Forsell during the incident.

Updated: 4:11 p.m.