A recent case involving a troubled veteran stalking a former high-profile FBI official has raised questions about the bureau’s response to potential threats. John C. Perez, a 32-year-old ex-Marine from California, pleaded guilty to a federal misdemeanor stalking charge after repeatedly showing up at the Washington residence of former FBI lawyer Lisa Page last year. This incident occurred just weeks after the FBI determined that Perez did not pose an imminent threat, despite his documented obsession with guns and mass shootings.
Page, known for her involvement in investigations related to Hillary Clinton’s email server and possible ties between Russia and President Trump’s campaign, attended Perez’s hearing in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. She criticized the bureau for failing to warn her about Perez’s fixation on her, which had been known to the FBI since September.
In mid-December, Perez visited Page’s house multiple times, making unfounded claims about her involvement in his childhood sexual abuse. Page expressed frustration over the lack of action taken by law enforcement, emphasizing that Perez’s presence at her doorstep just months later was deeply unsettling.
Despite Page’s emotional plea for stricter measures against Perez, the court upheld a plea deal that bars him from visiting the Washington area for six months and requires him to attend therapy sessions. Judge Robert I. Richter sympathized with Page but cited Perez’s lack of a prior criminal record in his decision.
Prosecutors revealed that Perez traveled cross-country with the sole purpose of confronting Page, driven by an obsession after seeing her on the news. Although court documents indicate no political motivations, Perez saw Page as the only person who could provide “closure” in his life.
Perez’s discharge from the Marines in May 2023 due to a serious delusional disorder, along with his troubling behavior and fixation on violence, had been flagged to the FBI by military investigators. However, the bureau did not take immediate action or notify Page of the potential threat.
In February, Metropolitan Police Department detectives successfully obtained an arrest warrant for Perez, leading to his voluntary return to Washington for legal proceedings. The case underscores the challenges of addressing stalking incidents and the importance of timely intervention in potential threats.
