A 32-year-old man from Pennsylvania has been charged with making online threats to kill President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials.
The person was identified as Shawn Monper.
Threat From Butler, PA
The US Department of Justice said in a statement, “Shawn Monper, 32, a resident of Butler, Pennsylvania, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with making threats to assault and murder President Donald Trump, other U.S. officials, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.”
Attorney General Responds
Attorney General Pamela Bondi appreciated investigative officials for identifying and apprehending the man before he could carry out his threats against Trump and other US officials.
In a statement, she said: “Rest assured that whenever and wherever threats of assassination or mass violence occur, this Department of Justice will find, arrest, and prosecute the suspect to the fullest extent of the law and seek the maximum appropriate punishment.”
Threats Posted To YouTube
According to the federal criminal complaint, on April 8, the FBI National Threat Operations Section (NTOS) received an emergency disclosure regarding threats posted to YouTube by user “Mr Satan.”
The Department said Federal agents determined that the threatening statements occurred between January 15 to April 5.
“The subsequent federal investigation affirmed that the internet activity associated with ‘Mr Satan’ corresponded with Monper’s residence,” the statement issued by the US Department of Justice said.
The investigation further established that Monper sought and obtained a firearms permit shortly following President Trump’s inauguration.
Suspect Arrested
The FBI, with the assistance of the Butler Township Police Department, arrested Monper on April 9.
“On April 10, Monper was ordered detained pending preliminary and detention hearings scheduled for April 14, at 1:00 pm,” the statement said.
Shawn Monper is from Butler, Pennsylvania, where President Donald Trump had escaped an assassination attempt last July while campaigning for the presidential polls.
(With inputs from IBNS)