A 40-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday morning on suspicion of plotting an attack on the Texas Capitol building in Austin. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) stated that they received credible information about the individual's plans for a violent attack. Due to the ongoing investigation, no further details were released. According to Scripps News, the tip was received on Tuesday, leading to a SWAT team mobilizing and making the arrest at 3 a.m. on Wednesday at a residence in Converse, San Antonio, approximately 69 miles from the Capitol.
The suspect, Benny Caldera Jr., was charged with making a terroristic threat against a public servant, a felony, as per a DPS statement. He reportedly made bond according to online Bexar County court records. However, the DPS later indicated that Caldera had been taken into custody by the FBI and faces additional charges, though no further details were provided by the FBI's San Antonio office.
DPS had alerted lawmakers about the threat and the arrest early Wednesday morning, while the Capitol remained open during regular operating hours. Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated that the FBI assisted DPS in the arrest, emphasizing that Texas does not tolerate threats of violence against the Capitol. The attempted attack coincides with a contentious midterm election involving Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and State Representative James Talarico, although it remains unclear if the election was related to the attack.
In a separate matter, Talarico was accused of involvement in a voter payment scheme, as reported by Texas Scorecard. A video surfaced showing an organizing manager with Texas Majority PAC discussing a program that compensates participants for attending a voting-related class, which some critics have labeled a pay-to-play scheme. Republican National Committee spokesman Zach Kraft criticized Talarico, calling him morally bankrupt for his actions in public office.