William Upham, a 35-year-old write-in candidate for the US House in Florida, has been arrested and charged with threatening to kill Donald Trump. Upham allegedly posted videos to social media detailing how to overthrow the Trump administration and kill the president, citing religious beliefs.
The arrest of a political candidate for allegedly threatening the life of the President highlights security concerns and the potential for politically motivated violence.
William Upham, a 35-year-old Republican write-in candidate for the US House in Florida, has been arrested and charged in federal court with threatening to kill Donald Trump. The US attorney's office announced the charges following an investigation by the Secret Service.
According to the complaint, the Secret Service began investigating Upham after receiving reports of potential threats he had allegedly made against Trump. Agents reviewed two videos Upham posted to his social media accounts. In the first video, Upham, wearing his military uniform, called for the overthrow of the Trump administration and provided military instruction on how to kill Trump and his forces, recommending the use of a semiautomatic rifle.
The complaint details a second video where Upham, also in uniform, allegedly made similar statements, identifying Trump as the enemy who 'must be killed.' Religious beliefs appeared to be a motivating factor, with Upham stating that Trump fit descriptions of the antichrist found in the Bible.
Federal authorities also uncovered a communication where Upham allegedly stated he made the videos to 'declare war' against Trump and would 'kill President Trump at the time that God chooses.' The Secret Service learned that Upham had access to firearms and had made concerning statements to law enforcement this month. If convicted, Upham faces up to five years in federal prison. Acting US Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao responded on social media, stating that Upham is no longer a Marine and does not represent their values.