Man pulls knife on postal worker over mail about Kamala Harris in Michigan, feds say
A Michigan man was convicted in federal court after officials say he pulled a knife out on a postal worker because he received mail about former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Russell Valleau, 62, was convicted of assaulting a federal employee, according to a Feb. 28 news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
McClatchy News reached out to Valleau’s attorney for comment on March 2 but did not immediately hear back.
At about 5 p.m. Sept. 26, Valleau approached a mail carrier in her truck in Farmington Hills.
Prosecutors said Valleau began yelling racial slurs at the woman. He was upset because he received mail about Harris and made derogatory comments about her, according to a criminal complaint.
The mail carrier began to roll her window up when Valleau pulled out a knife and made a motion toward her, the complaint said. The mail carrier then sprayed Valleau with pepper spray, officials said.
Valleau, who appeared to be intoxicated, left the area on a bicycle. He was later apprehended and told postal inspectors, “I didn’t put my hands on that woman. She maced me. I got arrested,” according to officials.
Witnesses told investigators they heard Valleau yelling racial slurs at the mail carrier.
“A letter carrier was simply trying to do her job, and this defendant physically attacked her while using racist and offensive language,” Acting U.S. Attorney Beck said.
Valleau was acquitted of an additional charge of using a dangerous weapon in the assault. He is set to be sentenced on May 27 and faces up to one year in prison.
Farmington Hills is about a 25-mile drive northwest of Detroit.
This story was originally published March 2, 2025 at 12:26 PM with the headline "Man pulls knife on postal worker over mail about Kamala Harris in Michigan, feds say."
