WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A Kansas man has been federally charged with making posts that threatened President Donald Trump ahead of his visit to the Wichita area.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Monday that it began an investigation Thursday, when a Crime Stoppers tip led authorities to Facebook comments on a Wichita TV station’s article. The posts, allegedly written by 24-year-old Jaden Read of Clearwater, were responding to an article about the president’s visit.
Prosecutors allege that Read wrote, “Let’s shoot Trump honestly, where’s our shooter? I’m tired of living this money life,” and later, “I just got a 308 and 305 round and I’m killing this pedo.”
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He also allegedly posted two Facebook comments on another local station’s article: “Can we shoot him in Kansas please I will myself” and “IK where your speech will be. Already mapped out roofs around. Finna get kirked since yall couldn’t help him.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Read was taken into custody Saturday in Clearwater and remains in federal custody until a detention hearing can be held.
“Political violence and threats of political violence will not be tolerated,” U.S. Attorney Ryan
Kriegshauser said in a news release. “The First Amendment allows for robust disagreement, but there are constraints. I caution people to stay within the bounds of constitutionally protected speech.”
The U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Highway Patrol and Wichita Police Department investigated the case.
