Federal prosecutors in Boston announced Thursday that a Massachusetts man has been indicted for cyberstalking the wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. The indictment accuses 41‑year‑old John Anthony Proia III of repeatedly calling, texting and sending vulgar messages to Katie Miller and to phone numbers linked to her parents between Aug. 3 and Sept. 23.
Charges and alleged conduct
The grand jury indictment alleges that Proia used multiple phone numbers to contact the victim, often employing expletives and a “menacing tone.” Prosecutors also say he sent texts to her parents describing Miller as an “evil” and a “Jewish Nazi/white supremacist,” adding that the communications profoundly disrupted the family’s lives.
Official response
U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche called the behavior “criminal” and said it will be prosecuted fully. “This behavior is criminal and will be treated as it should – with prosecution!” she wrote in a post on X. Katie Miller reposted the message and thanked the Attorney General for the swift response.
Investigation background
The case came to light after two FBI counterterrorism officials in the Washington Field Office were demoted and reassigned over matters related to the investigation, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Legal proceedings
Prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts filed the indictment, and a lawyer for Proia, based in Waltham, has not yet commented. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley in Massachusetts emphasized the seriousness of the alleged conduct, noting the repeated and relentless targeting of the victim, her husband and her family.
What this means
The indictment underscores the federal government’s commitment to protecting individuals from online harassment, especially when it targets families of senior officials. It also serves as a reminder that cyberstalking is a serious federal crime, punishable by significant penalties.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
