A 32-year-old man from Las Vegas, Spencer Gear, has been charged with threatening to injure and kill government officials in three states and the District of Columbia. The charges include threats against the New York judge and prosecutor involved in former President Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial. Gear pleaded not guilty to 22 felony charges of threatening a federal official and transmitting threats to injure.
The indictment, filed under seal on July 16, lists 11 alleged victims by initials, including Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York Judge Juan M. Merchan. The threats were made in a phone call from Nevada to New York.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Brenda Weksler cited the seriousness of the threats in remanding Gear to federal custody ahead of trial. She highlighted a recording of a telephone message directed at a judge and a district attorney, expressing great concern over the language used by Gear.
The threats come in the aftermath of Trump's guilty verdict in a hush money scheme to influence the 2016 election. Trump's legal team has requested the verdict to be overturned, pending a ruling by Judge Merchan in September.
Authorities reported a significant increase in threats against officials involved in the case, with bomb threats, sniper sight images, and threatening messages being directed at them. The threats have escalated since March 2023, with a surge in threatening emails and calls.
In a separate incident, a 26-year-old man from New York was charged with threatening the state Attorney General and the judge in Trump's civil fraud case with death and physical harm if they did not stop their actions in the matter.
Furthermore, in August 2023, FBI agents fatally shot an armed Utah man suspected of making threats against government officials, including the Manhattan District Attorney, the Attorney General, and President Joe Biden.
These incidents highlight the concerning trend of threats and violence directed at government officials, underscoring the need for heightened security measures and vigilance in protecting those in public service roles.
