The Complainant having reviewed the applicable reports believes the following facts to be true: An investigator from the Minnesota State Patrol learned that on or about June 14, 2025, Jeffrey Wade BENNER, [DOB REDACTED], the defendant herein, left a series of harassing telephone messages at the Office of Constituent Services in the City of Saint Paul, Ramsey County, MN. In the early morning hours of June 14, 2025, two Minnesota legislators and their spouses were shot at their homes by an adult male impersonating a police officer.
Law enforcement engaged in a state-wide manhunt for the individual who appeared to be targeting prominent elected officials. The shootings and subsequent search for the suspect were widely covered in the local and national medias beginning mid- morning on June 14, 2025. On June 12, 2025 at 3:19 PM, the defendant left a voice-mail at the Office of Constituent Services for the Minnesota Governor. The message expressed anger at political figures for giving “ … aliens free s*** com[ing] out of Americans’ pockets.” The defendant made additional profane statements and accused the office of being criminals.
In the afternoon of June 14, 2025, the defendant placed two additional disturbing voicemails at the Office of Constituent Services for the Minnesota Governor. While the defendant did not make explicit threats, he directly referenced the shootings and suggested that further harm should come to the Governor and other Minnesota lawmakers. Each of the voicemails contained profanity, sexual references, accusations of criminal conduct, and homophobic and racial slurs. The messages were received by the Director of Constituent Services, fully identified in the police reports, who expressed fear that the governor or other members of her staff may come to harm.
Investigators from Minnesota State Patrol and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehensions located the telephone number from which the calls were placed. The telephone number was associated with the defendant and located in Toms River, NJ. A police officer from the Toms River Police Department conducted a welfare check at the defendant’s address. The police officer spoke with the defendant’s ex- wife who provided them with a current address. A police officer subsequently met with and interviewed the defendant.
The defendant admitted placing the calls and leaving the voicemails. He indicated that he did this because he was frustrated with the current political climate.
