An Ohio man’s Discord account was deactivated following allegations that he threatened to assassinate ex-President Donald Trump.
Thomas Matthew Crooks was apprehended and is now facing charges for his intentions to murder the former President. Based on judicial records, Crooks used the Discord platform, which is favored among gamers, to communicate his threats.
The court filings reveal that Crooks expressed intentions to halt Trump, specifically mentioning, “I am going to stop Trump,” and “I am going to put a bullet in his head.” These declarations prompted a report to the FBI, which then led to Crooks’ identification and subsequent arrest.
Following the incident, all information relating to Crooks’ presence on Discord, such as his username and profile picture, was eliminated from the platform. It remains unknown whether this removal was a direct action by Discord or if it was carried out at law enforcement’s behest.
The Secret Service, the body charged with safeguarding the former President, handles all threats with utmost severity and conducts thorough investigations into each one. In their communications, the Secret Service affirmed their commitment to collaboratively investigate all threats directed at the former President with other law enforcement agencies.
At this time, Crooks is detained and awaits his trial. Should he be found guilty, he could face a prison sentence of up to five years.
Past incidents reflect a pattern, as this is not the first arrest linked to threats against the former President. In 2020, another individual was detained for threatening Trump and his family, and in 2018, yet another was apprehended for dispatching suspicious packages to Trump and other notable politicians.
It is essential to remember that issuing threats against any individual, including former political figures, constitutes a grave offense that carries serious legal repercussions. Anyone who encounters or witnesses threatening behavior online should report it to the appropriate authorities immediately.
