Lilly pleaded guilty in May 2023 to charges of using interstate communications with threats to kidnap or injure, as well as making repeated threatening calls.

Prosecutors reported that Lilly used vulgar language and berated congressional staffers during his calls, often becoming angry when they could not assist him.

Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger testified that threats against lawmakers have surged by about 400% over the past six years.

This case reflects a broader trend, as the Department of Justice has initiated efforts to combat threats against election officials, which have increased since the 2020 presidential election.

In addition to his prison sentence, Lilly will serve three years of supervised release, as mandated by U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly.

While Lilly's motives remain unclear, he claimed in court that his intent was to do what is best for future generations.

Federal prosecutors have warned that the normalization of violence in political discourse is a growing concern, particularly during election years.

Ade Salim Lilly, a 35-year-old from Queens, New York, has been sentenced to 13 months in prison for making thousands of threatening and harassing phone calls to members of Congress.

Lilly's harassment campaign spanned from February 2022 to November 2023, during which he made over 12,000 calls to approximately 54 congressional offices.

In one alarming instance, Lilly called a single congressional office more than 500 times within just two days in February 2023.

U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves emphasized that threatening someone's safety is a crime and not protected speech, highlighting the need for accountability.

The judge noted a concerning rise in violent attacks against politicians, referencing high-profile incidents such as the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.