Shawn Monper, 32, has been charged with four counts of threatening to kill a US official to obstruct their duties. The charges follow a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Pittsburgh.
Monper, from Pennsylvania, allegedly made threats online against President Donald Trump and immigration agents. The US Department of Justice released the details on Friday.
The complaint, filed on Wednesday, describes how Monper reportedly posted threatening comments on YouTube between February and April. He targeted Trump, senior US officials, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
In one message, Monper allegedly wrote, “Nah, we just need to start killing people, Trump, Elon, all the heads of agencies Trump appointed, and anyone who stands in the way.”
Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, has advised Trump on efforts to downsize and reshape the federal government.
Monper has not entered a plea yet. He remains in US custody and will attend a detention hearing on Monday.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi commented, stating, “Whenever threats of assassination or mass violence occur, the Department of Justice will find, arrest, and prosecute the suspect to the fullest extent of the law. We will seek the maximum punishment possible.”
Monper is from Butler, Pennsylvania, the same town where Trump faced an assassination attempt in July last year during his campaign.
