Kansas Man Arrested Over Alleged Threats of Violence Against Trump

A Kansas man was arrested on Oct. 17 for allegedly making threats on social media to shoot President Donald Trump ahead of his planned visit to Wichita, Kansas, according to federal prosecutors.

Jaden J. Read, 24, was charged in a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Kansas, according to a statement by the Justice Department (DOJ).

Federal prosecutors said authorities began investigating Read after receiving a Crime Stoppers tip about his comments made in response to a KAKE News article covering Trump’s planned visit to Wichita on Oct. 19.

Read allegedly posted two comments related to ammunition and a wish to assassinate the president.

Authorities also found that Read had posted two more comments in response to a KWCH 12 News article about Trump’s visit. In the first comment, he allegedly wrote about assassination again.

About a minute later, Read allegedly posted another comment on the same article saying that he knew where Trump’s speech would take place and that he had “already mapped out roofs around” the venue.

Authorities arrested Read in Clearwater, Kansas, on Oct. 17 and placed him in federal custody, where he will be held until his detention hearing.

“Political violence and threats of political violence will not be tolerated,” U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser said in the statement. “The First Amendment allows for robust disagreement but there are constraints. I caution people to stay within the bounds of constitutionally protected speech.”

It remains unclear whether Read has been appointed an attorney.

In September, federal authorities arrested Benjamin Azariah Southworth after a grand jury indicted him for allegedly threatening to kill Trump and cyberstalking Trump’s personal lawyer and the lawyer’s family.

The Los Angeles-based former podcaster was charged with one count of threats against the president, one count of cyberstalking, and one count of harassing telephone calls in interstate communications, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.

Southworth, whose podcast focuses on gay issues, was accused of using his social media accounts on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, and a website, to express his hatred toward Trump and Trump’s supporters.

In April, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Washington Hilton after a gunman breached a security checkpoint near the ballroom and shot a Secret Service agent. The agent survived.

Authorities arrested the suspect, identified as Cole Allen of Torrance, California, at the scene.

Allen was charged with attempting to assassinate the president, along with transporting a firearm across state lines with the intent to commit a felony and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. He has pleaded not guilty.

Jill McLaughlin contributed to this report.