Top FHFA official faces charges over allegedly threatening to harm former head DeMarco

A high-ranking official at the nation’s top housing regulator is facing a felony charge after he allegedly threatened the former acting director at the office last week. 

Richard Hornsby, Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) chief operating officer, was charged last Wednesday with one felony count of threatening to kidnap or injure a person, the Wall Street Journal reported.

{mosads}As part of the charge, a restraining order was issued against Hornsby who was ordered to keep away from his workplace and former FHFA acting director Edward DeMarco.

The agency oversees mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Hornsby allegedly threatened to shoot DeMarco after making “increasing threatening comments” over his job performance ratings and possibly threatened to kill himself, according to the WSJ report.

DeMarco left the agency last week after taking over as the acting director in August 2009. Former Rep. Mel Watt took over the agency in January.

The next hearing on the case is set for May 14.