FLINT -- A chilling voice mail message sent to Michigan Attorney General candidate and Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton’s Genesee County office lit up a new firestorm in an already heated and ugly campaign marred by accusations of anti-Semitism and homophobia.
Text of the voicemail is as follows:
"Hey, David Leyton, I'm a Michigan resident. I think you're a piece of (bleep) dirt. I hope you get murdered in a spectacularly horrible way that (bleep) makes your family (bleep) wish people didn't exist. People like you."
Leyton tells NBC25, "I don't want to talk about any security measures that I have taken, but obviously when somebody threatens you and your family, you take it with all seriousness."
Michigan Democratic Party sources say the death threat came from an Oakland County man, motivated by a controversial ad run by the Michigan Republican Party. The ad attacks Leyton over a plea deal reached in a murder case four years ago.
That ad features Debbie McIntosh, mother of the murder victim who is also linked to comments on a Flint Journal web story that have been called racist, where she alleged a Jewish conspiracy arranged by the paper to protect Leyton, who himself is Jewish.
Other comments relating to the Andrew Shirvell bullying case were considered homophobic. The comments were quickly condemned by the Schuette campaign, with this statement released by Campaign Manager Rusty Hills.
"We condemn that. There is no place in politics for threats. I hope the perpetrator is apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." Leyton campaign officials tell NBC25 authorities are investigating the case. We will keep you updated as this story develops.
