United States

DC Man Accused of Threatening Vatican's Ambassador to the US

Darryl Sharp previously accused of impersonating federal officer in Rep. Scalise's office

The U.S. Secret Service is investigating a Washington, D.C., man for threatening the Vatican’s ambassador to the United States.

The suspect has a long history of protesting the church and has been arrested in several highly-secured, sensitive locations in recent years, according to a review by the News4 I-Team.

Darryl Sharp, 57, is facing a federal charge of threatening a federal official. Police arrested Sharp Friday in Northwest Washington. According to a U.S. Secret Service affidavit, Sharp has menaced employees and officials with the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See on Massachusetts Avenue in Northwest for years. According to the affidavit, “Many of Sharp’s threats are directed at the ambassador, whom Sharp refers to by name.”

The affidavit also said, in August, there was an incident in which a witness reported, “Sharp began screaming and referred to the ambassador by name saying ‘that he’d better get out here, otherwise there will be consequences.'”

Requests for comment from Sharp’s attorney were not returned. In 2015, Sharp spoke with the I-Team and said he is protesting and planning legal action against Catholic church leadership for financial improprieties.

An I-Team investigation of Sharp showed several other arrests in sensitive locations. In 2015, U.S. Capitol Police arrested Sharp at least twice. In one incident he was accused of impersonating a federal officer while inside the offices of U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.). Earlier in the year, Sharp was arrested for illegally entering a U.S. Senate office suite to use copier machines.

Sharp denied the allegation he’d impersonated a federal officer in his interview with the I-Team in 2015. He said he did use copier machines at the U.S. Senate, but said he was given permission to do so by staff.

There are multiple stay away orders against Sharp in federal facilities. Court filings show dozens of prior arrests, at least one of which led to a 60-day jail sentence.

The U.S. Secret Service affidavit said Sharp also faced a stay away order from the Vatican embassy but nevertheless “continued his threatening and harassing behavior toward embassy employees.”

The Vatican embassy has not yet replied to requests for comment.

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