A Brooklyn man with a history of mental illness posted three graphic messages on the White House website’s “Contact Us” page. The messages included threats to kill President Donald Trump at his next public speaking engagement and criticized reductions to safety net programs. The sender provided personal identifying information. Federal prosecutors alleged the threats were made in connection with anger over subsidies for homeless people and people who need assistance. The Secret Service visited his home and he admitted making the threats and knowing they were illegal. He was arrested on a federal charge of threatening the president and appeared in federal court. A judge ordered him held without bail, citing his mental health history and a recent suicide.
"“I am in the process of planning your execution and feel that you must be taken care of. You feel that 1.4 million homeless in (A)merica is okay and that reducing subsidies to cause this is okay,” he wrote in his first message, according to a criminal complaint. His second message threatened Trump at his “next public speaking engagement.” His third message went into more detail, the complaint alleges, criticizing Trump for “supporting the repeal of subsidies for people who need it.”"
"The Secret Service visited his home in downtown Brooklyn on Monday, and he admitted to making the threats and knowing they were illegal, according to the complaint. “I haven't started the planning process yet,” he said, according to the criminal complaint. He also admitted to making threats against the vice president and “about 18 reps,” the complaint alleges."
"Justin Christopher Moore, 53, wrote three screeds on the “Contact Us” section of whitehouse.gov on Sunday. He gave his name, address, e-mail address and phone number, according to a criminal complaint. Law enforcement sources described Moore as an unemployed U.S. Navy veteran."
"Magistrate Judge Vera Scanlon ordered him held without bail after his lawyer, Charles Millioen of the Federal Defenders, reserved the write to apply for bail at a later date. The judge noted Moore's history with bi-polar disorder and schizophrenia and made reference to a recent suicide"
#threats-against-public-officials #white-house-website #federal-prosecution #mental-illness #safety-net-subsidies
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