Texas Repub's former advisor arrested for threatening computer repairman with fake gun

A registered lobbyist and former advisor for former Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) was arrested after he allegedly threatened a computer repairman with what turned out to be a fake gun.

WUSA-TV reported that 50-year-old Joseph Nestor Mondello was charged with abduction by force or intimidation and use of a firearm in a felony after he refused to let the tech worker out of his Arlington, Virginia home until the repairs were completed.

According to Arlington Patch, Arlington County police said that Mondello went "over the edge" when the man said he had to leave the house to get a part to fix the lobbyist's computer.

Police spokesperson Dustin Sternbeck said that the suspect left the room, then returned with a replica gun, telling the repairman, "I'm going to kill you slowly."

The tech worker was able to escape the house and contact authorities when Mondello's wife got between them after overhearing the confrontation. Mondello turned himself in after police sent a SWAT team to the residence.

The suspect is listed on LinkedIn as a principal at The Mondello Group, and describes himself as "a recognized expert in legislative strategy and federal government relations." He worked as the senator's legislative director from April 2000 to April 2004.

"The terrorist attacks of 9/11/01 occurred while Senator Hutchison was the Ranking Member of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee, and Mr. Mondello played a key role in negotiating new laws and regulations to safeguard passenger aviation and other forms of transportation," his LinkedIn profile states.