Northeast Oklahoma man sentenced for stalking, threatening Congressman and his wife

TULSA Okla. – A Bartlesville man was sentenced to three years in prison for stalking and threatening Congressman Kevin Hern and his wife, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett sentenced Keith Charles Eisenberger, 40, to three years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for cyberstalking, threatening to kidnap and assault a member of Congress, and threatening to kidnap and assault the spouse of a member of Congress.

“Eisenberger threatened a member of Congress and his family in an attempt to interfere with and undermine our democratic process and the duties of that official,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. Online threats of violence meant to intimidate elected officials, or any member of our community are criminal acts and will be investigated and prosecuted.”

For nearly four years, the Hern family had to deal with stalking, harassment, and threats from the Defendant, both online and in person, from Tulsa to Washington, D.C..

Beginning in late 2018, Eisenberger began making a series of harassing phone calls and in-person visits to both the Tulsa and Washington D.C. offices of Congressman Hern, which led to him being removed by U.S. Capitol Police on several occasions. Eisenberger stated he had a personal vendetta against Congressman Hern, because he believed the congressman had been appointed to the OK-1 congressional seat without Eisenberger being considered for it.

In 2020, Eisenberger began voicing his grievances in dozens of social media posts. In Nov. 2020, Eisenberger made a post again voicing his anger about the election and further suggesting that the congressman deserved to be “federally executed” and that if that was not feasible then the resignation, death, or expulsion of Hern was acceptable.

In a lengthy Oct. 2021, social media video post, he touted that he was going to assault and hospitalize the congressman, whether it be at a debate, a conference, or elsewhere.

In a May 11, 2022, social media post, Eisenberger stated that he knew where the Hern family lived and that he hoped to break into the residence to kidnap Hern and his wife. He further wished death would come to the congressman’s wife and children.

During his plea, on Aug. 10, 2022, Eisenberger admitted to using electronic devices and cellular devices to send threats through cyber space with the intent to harass, intimidate, and threaten United States Representative Kevin Hern. Eisenberger further admitted that he threatened to assault and kidnap Representative Hern and his spouse with the intent to impede, intimidate, and interfere with Representative Hern while he was engaged in his official duties, and to retaliate against the Representative.

Eisenberger will remain in the custody of U.S. Marshal Service pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Nassar prosecuted the case.