Federal authorities have arrested an Arizona man after he allegedly posted movies on-line threatening to kill President-elect Donald Trump and his household.
Within the movies, posted on Fb in current months, Manuel Tamayo-Torres issued an array of weird and outlandish claims about Trump, however he additionally apparently brandished an AR 15-style rifle and different weapons within the movies, and in August he recorded his journey to an area in Glendale, Arizona, as Trump was holding a marketing campaign rally there, in keeping with charging paperwork filed within the case.
Whereas the charging paperwork solely confer with Trump as “Particular person 1,” they are saying Tamayo-Torres made “imprecise but direct threats” towards “the president-elect,” and sources accustomed to the investigation individually confirmed Tamayo-Torres’ alleged threats focused Trump.
“[Y]ou’re gonna die,” Tamayo-Torres allegedly stated in a video he posted on Thursday. “[Y]our son’s gonna die. Your entire household goes to die. … I’ll put a gap in your face.”
The clip was considered one of “quite a few” rambling and curse-laden movies he is posted “on a near-daily foundation” in current months claiming that “Particular person 1” kidnapped and sex-trafficked his youngsters, in keeping with the charging paperwork.
It is unclear if Tamayo-Torres truly has youngsters.
Earlier in November, Tamayo-Torres allegedly posted a video threatening “Particular person 1” whereas holding up “what seems to be a white AR 15-style rifle with a 30-round journal inserted into it,” charging paperwork stated.
In one other video, in keeping with the charging paperwork, Tamayo-Torres stated he witnessed “Particular person 1” and the Secret Service kidnap his daughter. The video was posted Aug. 23 from Desert Diamond Area in Glendale, Arizona, the place Trump was holding a marketing campaign rally that day.
Former President Donald Trump speaks at a marketing campaign rally in Rome, Ga., March 9, 2024.
Mike Stewart/AP, FILE
Throughout the rally, Trump famous that he was “practically assassinated” a month earlier, when a Pennsylvania man, Thomas Crooks, opened hearth on him with an AR 15-style rifle throughout a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Authorities have but to determine a transparent motive in that assault.
Trump instructed rallygoers there are “dangers incurred by leaders who stand as much as the corrupt political institution.”
“While you rise up, you carry on some hassle for your self, however it’s important to do what’s proper,” Trump stated.
Whereas investigating the newer alleged threats from Tamayo-Torres, an officer from a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives process power discovered photographs on Fb that confirmed Tamayo-Torres holding a bullpup-style shotgun, a rifle, and the AR15-style rifle seen in considered one of his movies, in keeping with charging paperwork.
Tamayo-Torres was arrested Monday close to San Diego, the place he anticipated transferring quickly, court docket information point out.
Although he was arrested in California, the fees towards him have been filed in Arizona. He was charged with one depend of constructing threats towards a president or president’s successor.
He was additionally charged with 4 counts of constructing false statements through the buy of a firearm, after he allegedly lied on federal types a 12 months in the past whereas making an attempt to purchase a pistol from a Phoenix gun retailer.
He swore on these types that he had not been beforehand convicted of a felony, however he had been convicted of assault in 2003 in San Diego, so he was legally prohibited from possessing firearms, the charging paperwork stated.
As of Tuesday night, court docket information didn’t record an lawyer representing Tamayo-Torres.
