Pennsylvania man charged with threatening Trump, ICE agents, other officials

A Pennsylvania man has been federally charged with making threats to assault and assassinate President Donald Trump, other U.S. officials, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Shawn Monper, a 32-year-old resident of Butler, Pennsylvania, was arrested on Wednesday following an investigation by the FBI and Butler Township Police Department. Monper had made several threatening statements on his YouTube account, using the name “Mr. Satan,” between January 15 and April 5.

In these statements, Monper expressed intentions to assassinate President Trump, referring to ICE agents as terrorists who should be killed, and even mentioning plans for a mass shooting. The FBI was alerted to his threatening behavior and was able to trace his YouTube account back to his residence in Butler.

Monper also made comments on his YouTube channel about purchasing firearms and stocking up on ammunition since Trump’s inauguration. He specifically mentioned buying one gun per month and acquiring body armor, indicating a dangerous level of preparation for potential acts of violence.

The Department of Justice has been vigilant in cracking down on threats against the president, and Monper’s case is being taken seriously. The Butler Township Police Department, in collaboration with the FBI, is actively investigating the matter.

Monper is scheduled to appear in court on Monday to face the federal charges against him. This incident comes after a previous assassination attempt on President Trump during a campaign rally in Butler last July, where the shooter was killed by the Secret Service. Another Florida man was also arrested for attempting to assassinate the president in September, highlighting the ongoing dangers posed by individuals making violent threats against public officials.

Threats of violence and assassination are taken very seriously by law enforcement agencies, and those who engage in such behavior will be brought to justice to the fullest extent of the law. The safety and security of public officials and the American people are paramount, and the DOJ will continue to work tirelessly to prevent such threats from escalating into acts of violence.