The U.S. Secret Service has detained Shannon Mathre, 33, from Toledo, Ohio, after a federal grand jury indicted him on charges of threatening to assassinate Vice President JD Vance. The Justice Department revealed the arrest on Friday, following Mathre's alleged threats during Vance's visit to Ohio.
The investigation began in January when Mathre reportedly stated, "I am going to find out where he is going to be and use my M14 automatic gun and kill him," as per the charging documents the Department of Justice released. The remarks were purportedly made around January 21 or 22, aligning with Vance's time in the Toledo vicinity, though the mode of communication for the threat was not detailed by prosecutors.
Mathre is now facing a two-count indictment, which not only addresses the threat against the Vice President but also encompasses related offenses. As the investigation unfolded, law enforcement discovered further incriminating evidence against Mathre. Federal prosecutors found him in possession of digital files that depicted minors in sexually explicit activities.
According to the allegations, Mathre engaged in the distribution and receipt of child sexual abuse materials from December until his arrest. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche commented on the gravity of the case, stating, "While arresting this man for allegedly threatening to murder the Vice President of the United States, federal law enforcement discovered that he was also in possession of child sexual abuse materials."
Mathre was booked into the Lucas County jail and appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of Ohio on February 6. He remains incarcerated pending further legal proceedings, with a detention hearing scheduled for February 11 to determine if he will be held without bail.
This incident is among a series of threats against elected officials—taken with utmost seriousness by federal officials amid increasing security concerns. Just weeks prior, a separate security breach involved an attempt to enter Vice President Vance's Cincinnati home. Though not directly linked, these cases exemplify the ongoing risks faced by public officials.
Federal officials underscored their commitment to addressing these threats vigorously. As the investigation into Mathre's alleged offenses continues, prosecutors are preparing for the upcoming hearings. If convicted on all counts, Mathre could encounter a substantial prison sentence due to the severity of the combined charges of threatening a public official and child exploitation.
