Senator John Whitmire target of new prison death threat
Authorities confirmed Monday afternoon they are investigating a tip that a violent prison gang was plotting to kill state Sen. John Whitmire, a Houston lawmaker who heads the Senate committee that oversees the prison system.
No charges have yet been filed in the case that was opened last Tuesday when an informant inside a Texas prison alerted authorities that the Mexican Mafia gang had targeted Whitmire to be gunned down at a Mexican restaurant where he often has lunch.
The restaurant presumably was in Austin, since thats where Whitmire is spending most of his time during the legislative session.
Whitmire and investigators familiar with the case said Monday the threat appeared credible, and that Whitmire was put under protection as a result. They would not say Monday whether he still had protection.
More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/whitmire-target-of-new-prison-death-threat/nW4FZ/ .