COEUR d’ALENE, Idaho — In an exclusive interview with Kootenai Journal on February 23, Rep. Jordan Redman (R–Rathdrum), a father of six, disclosed that Coeur d’Alene police officers told him the threats of violence against him and his family were considered credible due to the suspect’s suicidal ideations, which the police said can often lead to violence against others as well as self.
“When I showed up to my office with my two young boys around 10 a.m. on Saturday to check the mail, there were three Coeur d’Alene police cars in the parking lot,” shared Jordan. “The officers told me the suspect was known to them and had been on the premises video-taping my business only 45 minutes before I arrived.”
The suspect, identified as Ryan Matthew Gaddy, had posted his angry threats online, but Redman said he was unaware of them as he doesn’t monitor social media regularly.
Redman informed the officers he was due to attend a legislative town hall and made sure both Sheriff Bob Norris and the town hall’s host were apprised of the situation. Redman learned the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) had already arranged for security at the event and believed it would be alright to attend since law enforcement was actively investigating the suspect and the sheriff was also due to be in attendance to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
KCRCC Chairman Brent Regan told Kootenai Journal that the lead security officer was informed of the credible threat against Redman and the announcement issued at the start of the event for the audience to maintain proper decorum was necessary and appropriate.
In an online-video rant posted to Facebook, Gaddy called Redman “a f–king slimy f–k insurance salesman” who took away his insulin.
Redman was told by police that Gaddy was upset about losing his Medicaid coverage and was placing the blame on the legislator since he was the sponsor on a Medicaid expansion reform bill.
“I blame the media for consistently lying about Medicaid,” stated Redman. “They tell the public we are trying to ‘kill’ or ‘repeal’ Medicaid. This is not true, yet the media refuses to honestly report the details of the legislation and what we are attempting to do.”
“We are trying to preserve the Medicaid program before the costs destroy it altogether,” he explained. “The reforms do not impact pregnant women, children, or disabled people.”
During the town hall, Redman was interrupted by a heckler who claimed he would profit by writing health insurance policies if the Medicaid reform bill was passed. Redman responded by disclosing that his insurance office does not deal in health insurance policies and said there was only one policy written seven years ago.
Records show Gaddy was booked into the Kootenai County Jail on February 23 at 12:45 a.m. for Official Threats and Executive Threats, with a bond of $250,000 for each charge.
Redman expressed thankfulness for the professionalism of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Coeur d’Alene Police Department, and the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office. “I am very pleased with how law enforcement handled the threat and am thankful that the Coeur d’Alene police were able to secure an arrest warrant and the suspect was apprehended without incident.”
He also made clear that at this time, any changes that may take place with an individual’s Medicaid eligibility is not connected to the pending House Bill 138, which has not passed the Senate or become law. Additionally, all determinations and reviews of eligibility for Medicaid are handled by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, not the legislature.
Gaddy posted a second video before his arrest in which he complained about the police being involved. “I don’t know who f–king called the goddamn cops…I’ve been on the phone for the last hour with the f–king negotiator.”
“Allegedly I haven’t done anything wrong because I just made a Facebook posting,” he continued. “Until I actually take action against this f–ker who deserves the fire and fury treatment, because that’s how you deal with evil, you burn it to the f–king ground.”
Gaddy went on to say that he told the police they need to press attempted murder charges against Redman for sponsoring the bill that will “injure and kill potentially 990,000 Idahoans.”
The media is complicit in riling up the public.
Rep. Jordan Redman
At the end of his video-speech, Gabby said, “I’m willing to light myself on fire and shoot this f–king car into his f–king building like a f–king cruise missile…If you f–king bring fire and f–king brimstone and bullets in their direction, [than] you’re the bad guy. The rules don’t f–king apply anymore, so I’m not playing by the f–king rules anymore. F–k ’em.”
After publication, Redman was interviewed about the credible threat, media dishonesty, and pending Medicaid expansion reform on Idaho Signal, which can be accessed via this link.
