A Pennsylvania resident is facing federal charges after allegedly making online threats to assassinate former President Donald Trump and officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Justice announced Friday.
Shawn Monper, 32, was charged earlier this week with four counts of threatening to kill a U.S. official in an attempt to interfere with the performance of their duties, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh.
Between February and April, Monper allegedly posted a series of disturbing comments on YouTube in which he called for acts of political violence, including targeting Trump, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, and several high-ranking federal officials. “We just need to start killing people, Trump, Elon, all the heads of agencies Trump appointed, and anyone who stands in the way,” read one of the messages attributed to Monper in the complaint.
Attorney General Pam Bondi responded firmly, pledging swift action in such cases. “Whenever and wherever there are threats of assassination or mass violence, the Justice Department will act swiftly to locate, arrest, and prosecute the individual responsible, and pursue the harshest lawful punishment,” she said in a statement.
The case also notes that Musk, who previously advised Trump during efforts to streamline federal agencies, was among those Monper allegedly threatened.
Monper, a resident of Butler, Pennsylvania—where Trump survived an assassination attempt during a campaign stop last July—has not yet entered a plea. He remains in federal custody as he awaits a detention hearing scheduled for Monday.
