Philadelphia lawmaker Danilo Burgos named on list of threatened Pennsylvania legislators as police arrest suspect
Philadelphia, PA.– State Rep. Danilo Burgos, a Democrat representing the 197th District and one of the most visible figures for the Latino community in Philadelphia, is among the officials included on an alleged target list tied to politically violent threats, according to the Pennsylvania State Police.
Authorities identified Burgos as one of several lawmakers from the Philadelphia area named on that list, in a case that led to the arrest of Adam Berryhill, 42, of Lebanon County, who is accused of posting threats on social media against 20 Democratic state legislators.
Speaking exclusively to El Faro Latino, Rep. Burgos said political violence has no place and warned that no elected official should have to serve while constantly worrying about personal safety.
Burgos attributed part of the climate of risk to what he described as a breakdown and a mental health crisis in the country, and said the situation is worsened by a policy of President Donald Trump not to fund mental health programs.
He said he was deeply disturbed upon learning of what he described as the progression of a criminal plan targeting roughly twenty elected officials who, in his words, do nothing more than serve their communities.
State police said Berryhill was arrested on May 6 after authorities were notified of the threats, and that he was charged the next day with one count of making a terroristic threat in a Lebanon County magisterial district court.
According to the report, the list was first reported by Spotlight PA and included House Speaker Joanna McClinton, as well as Rep. Chris Rabb and Sen. Sharif Street, both linked to a competitive primary for Philadelphia’s 3rd Congressional District.
The investigation began in late April, according to cited charging documents. Police said a trooper assigned to McClinton’s security found posts from an X account known as Pennsylvania Militia during a routine safety review, and investigators allege the account was operated by Berryhill.
Among the posts cited by police was a reference to a Memorial Day operation, which authorities interpreted as evidence of premeditation and a potential timeline for an attack. Police also reported images posted to the account showing a hand holding a firearm, even though, according to police, Berryhill was prohibited from owning guns due to an involuntary commitment in 2019.
In 2019, according to the police account, the individual was involuntarily committed to a mental health facility against his will through a legal order or process. In many states, including Pennsylvania, that type of involuntary commitment triggers a legal prohibition on buying, possessing, or carrying firearms.
In addition to Burgos, police said other Philadelphia-area officials named on the list included Reps. Morgan Cephas, Malcolm Kenyatta, Rick Krajewski, Joe Hohenstein, Mary Isaacson, and Jordan Harris. Lawmakers from surrounding counties were also named, including Reps. Benjamin Sanchez and Tim Briggs, and Sens. Steve Santarsiero, Amanda Cappelletti, Maria Collett, John Kane, Katie Muth, and Judy Schwank.
Authorities cited posts containing threatening language and explicit references to violence. In one post attributed to the account under investigation, it claimed that legal avenues would be pursued and, if they failed, shootings would begin.
Although the arrest occurred nearly a week before police publicly disclosed the case, some Democratic lawmakers said they did not learn their names were included on the alleged list until police posted about it. Sen. Katie Muth said she became aware only after two colleagues received preliminary hearing notices at their Capitol offices identifying them as crime victims. Muth said she contacted the magisterial district judge to obtain her own notice and questioned why they had not been informed earlier.
Senate Democratic Minority Leader Jay Costa called the events a clear communication failure that did not keep legislators briefed about threats to their safety and the steps taken afterward. A state police spokesperson said via email that the agency immediately alerted the Lebanon County district attorney and notified the law enforcement agencies responsible for the security of the elected officials involved.
Several lawmakers said threats of political violence have become commonplace. Malcolm Kenyatta said it was not the first time he had endured such threats and stated that threats, intimidation, and violence have no place in politics. Chris Rabb said political violence against elected officials is meant to silence them. Sharif Street said he has received tens of thousands of threats tied to his stance on the 2020 presidential election and said they remain undeterred in their work.
McClinton, Costa, House Majority Leader Matt Bradford, and House Minority Leader Jesse Topper issued a joint statement condemning the threats and saying that disagreement and debate are features of a healthy democracy, but threats of violence are not.
Gov. Josh Shapiro also condemned the incident and said it showed a better process is necessary to notify elected officials. State police said they will implement a policy requiring investigators to notify members of the General Assembly immediately and directly of any threats against them.
About Berryhill, the report says court records did not list an attorney and that he is scheduled for a preliminary hearing. In a search warrant return, police said they seized a face covering and two black baseball caps. State records identify him as a registered Republican in Lebanon County who last voted in the November 2024 general election.
The report also describes a two-decade criminal history that includes guilty pleas to misdemeanor theft and drug offenses, and a 2016 guilty plea on charges that included terroristic threats, assault, and harassment. It adds that the X account tied to the case was created in March and posted more than 500 times about politics, gun laws, and Pennsylvania news, including references to military-style operational orders.
