St. Louis Man Admits in Federal Court to Threatening to Blow Up Synagogue in City

A Missouri man has admitted in federal court to threatening to blow up a St. Louis synagogue in 2021, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Cody Steven Rush, a 30-year-old St. Louis resident, confessed last Monday to calling the FBI last Nov. 5 and saying he wanted to attack the city’s Central Reform Congregation “when they open tomorrow,” on Shabbat, because “he hates Jews.”

He later called back and said he heard voices, had schizoaffective disorder, suffered from PTSD, anxiety, depression, and social anxiety disorder.

In reference to Jews, Rush said, “I hate them with rage.”

He provided his address on the same street as the synagogue in the Central West End of St. Louis, enabling police to locate him.

Rush pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey to use of a telephone and instrument of interstate commerce to make a threat.

He will be sentenced on Nov. 8, and faces up to ten years in jail.