A man named Michael Branham, 48, was arrested for allegedly threatening to bomb the Saturday Night Live studio. The threat was made through a text message sent to a Connecticut college, which then informed the police. Branham was charged with falsely reporting an incident and making a threat of mass harm, according to NBC News.
Branham, who has a history of obsession with actress Scarlett Johansson, was arraigned in Manhattan criminal court on Thursday (April 3) and pleaded not guilty. His bail was set at $100,000. The threat was deemed not credible by law enforcement officials. Branham has been linked to previous incidents involving Johansson, including attempts to obtain a restraining order against him.
The suspect’s lawyer argued for lower bail, suggesting that Branham might have been set up by scammers posing as Johansson online. However, Judge Janet McDonnell maintained the bail amount, citing the violent nature of the threat. Orders of protection were issued for Johansson and her husband, Colin Jost, who is a cast member on SNL.
Branham’s social media activity shows repeated posts about Johansson, whom he allegedly believes he has a personal relationship with. Despite the legal challenges, his lawyer continues to argue that Branham has no history of weapon use.
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