FHFA Official Charged With Threatening to Kill DeMarco

The chief operating officer of the Federal Housing Finance Agency is facing a felony charge for threatening to kill the agency’s former top official, according to Washington, D.C. police and Superior Court records.

Richard Hornsby last week threatened to shoot former FHFA Acting Director Edward J. DeMarco and then kill himself, according to an April 29 police report. DeMarco, who retired from the agency that regulates Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FMCC) on April 30, was taken to a secure location while Hornsby was arrested.

Hornsby, 58, was released under the condition that he not assault, threaten, harass or stalk DeMarco, 53, who hired him in 2011.

FHFA spokeswoman Denise Dunckel declined to comment on a personnel matter. Hornsby did not immediately respond to a message left on his mobile phone.

Before joining FHFA, Hornsby worked for 26 years at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Melvin L. Watt took over as director of FHFA in January, replacing DeMarco.

The charges against Hornsby were reported earlier Tuesday by The Wall Street Journal.

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