Minneapolis Star-Tribune: “A federal judge says GOP political strategist Anton Lazzaro must remain in jail as he prepares his defense against sex-trafficking charges, citing ‘very troubling’ testimony that Lazzaro made veiled threats to law enforcement and prosecutors after being arrested earlier this year. While being transported by police, Lazzaro told Minneapolis officer Brandon Brugger he knew where he lived, and that he’d tried but failed to find personal information about an FBI agent – whom Lazzaro called a ‘ghost’ – according to Brugger. ‘There is no legitimate reason – none – for Lazzaro to be collecting home addresses and other personal information about the law enforcement officers involved in his case,’ wrote Judge Patrick Schiltz in an order filed Tuesday.”

“‘And Lazzaro’s telling Officer Brugger that he knew where he lived was clearly an attempt to threaten and intimidate him.’ Lazzaro also said Assistant US Attorney Laura Provinzino was ‘going to regret this,’ according to Brugger. ‘Although it is not entirely clear why Lazzaro was saying that Provinzino would ‘regret’ pursuing criminal charges against him, the Court can conceive of no legitimate reason for Lazzaro to make such a threatening remark to an arresting officer,’ wrote Schiltz. Lazzaro, a 30-year-old whose political ties sent a shock wave through the Minnesota GOP after his arrest, faces 10 charges related to trafficking minors and obstruction. In lengthy testimony in August, Brugger described a conspiracy in which Lazzaro paid underage girls for sex in cash, and groomed them with presents such as a Prada purse, alcohol, vape pens and cellphones. Brugger said Lazzaro paid former University of St. Thomas student Gisela Medina, 19, in cash, travel and high-priced champagne to help recruit young girls for him on social media. Lazzaro and Medina have both pleaded not guilty to the charges.”