Maine Governor LePage: I'd like to blow up newspaper building

Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) wasted no time in making a disturbing joke after boarding a flight simulator during a Friday appearance, the Bangor Daily News reported on Friday.

"I want to find the Press Herald building and blow it up," LePage said in video posted online from his appearance at an event hosted by defense contractor Pratt & Whitney, referring to the Portland Press Herald. LePage later told a WMTW-TV reporter he was targeting both newspapers in the simulation.

Later that day, LePage sent a tweet to the Press-Herald, saying, "Threatened? It was a joke, folks."

While local FBI officials told the Press-Herald they did not expect him to carry out such a threat, the newspaper's publisher, Lisa DeSisto, said it was an example of his "misguided sense of humor."

"That kind of a joke is irresponsible in this day and age, especially when it comes from the leader of our state," DeSisto told the Press-Herald.

The Daily News reported that newspapers are owned by S. Donald Sussman, a substantial donor to state Republican candidates, whose wife, Rep. Chellie Pingree (D) has crossed paths with LePage in the path.

Watch video of LePage's remarks, posted online by YouTube user Troy Bennett, below.

[h/t Alec MacGillis]