Police: Man threatened to kill gay police officers, rape City Council speaker

A Bronx youth minister faces multiple charges after allegedly threatening to kill all of New York City's gay and lesbian police officers, as well as threatening to rape City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and kill her family.
Daniel Silvera was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court Tuesday on charges including aggravated harassment as a hate crime.
According to the criminal complaint, Silvera said that he knows where Mark-Viverito lives and that he would go to her home, "knock down the door and rape Speaker Mark-Viverito four times" and "kill Speaker Mark-Viverito's family with weapons."
News 12 found multiple pictures posted on social media that show Silvera with city officials and politicians, including ones with NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill, Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver and Bronx Councilman Fernando Cabrera.
Investigators say Silvera also sent an email to the NYPD LGBT Outreach Unit similar to the one sent to Mark-Viverito's office, saying he would kill every gay and lesbian police officer with weapons.
Two News 12 reporters also received similar threatening emails around the same time. Those emails were turned over to police for their investigation.
A spokeswoman for the council speaker's office says the threats are "deeply disturbing."
There are 17 total counts against Silvera.
Silvera's bail was set at $50,000 cash or bond at the people's request, News 12 is told.