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Indictment for assassination threat
A federal grand jury has indicted 33-year-old Shannon Mathre of Toledo for allegedly threatening to assassinate U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance with an M14-style automatic rifle during Vance’s January visit to northwest Ohio, the Justice Department says.
“"find out where [the vice president] is going to be and use my M14 automatic gun and kill him"”
According to court papers quoted by multiple outlets, Mathre allegedly told others he would "find out where [the vice president] is going to be and use my M14 automatic gun and kill him," language echoed in reporting across sources.
Authorities say the threat was made around Jan. 21, shortly before Vance’s visit.
The indictment followed a multiagency probe that culminated in Mathre’s arrest.
Federal Indictment Summary
The indictment carries two federal counts: threatening a successor to the presidency and receipt/distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Prosecutors say investigators recovered child sexual abuse materials during the probe, and those allegations are being prosecuted alongside the threat count.
Reported federal penalties include up to five years and a $250,000 fine for the threat charge, and up to 20 years and a $250,000 fine for the CSAM charge.
Outlets note that actual sentencing will depend on statutory factors and the court's sentencing process.
Arrest and court processing
Law enforcement accounts say U.S. Secret Service agents arrested Mathre during the investigation.
“Mathre was arrested by U.S. Secret Service agents and made a first federal court appearance the same day.”
Reporting differs slightly on the public timeline but consistently describes a swift move from arrest to federal court processing.
Multiple outlets say Mathre pleaded not guilty at an initial hearing and remains in custody pending a detention hearing set for Feb. 11.
Some accounts place his arrest and first court appearance on Feb. 6.
The Office of the Vice President referred questions to the U.S. Secret Service.
Mathre's attorney has criticized the indictment in stark terms.
Media coverage overview
Coverage tone and additional context vary by outlet.
Some Western alternative outlets, such as Townhall and the Daily Caller, include explicit praise for the prosecution and partisan framing, with Townhall noting partisan commentary and an editorial appeal.
By contrast, Law & Crime and international outlets like The Straits Times, Букви, and Evrim Ağacı present the indictment and related allegations with straightforward legal detail and direct Department of Justice quotes.
Officials quoted include Attorney General Pam Bondi, who described the threat as appearing to have been made online, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who praised the multiagency investigation and said authorities brought "justice twofold".
Some outlets report the defense's public statements — calling the indictment a 'poor draft' and 'a farce' — as claims from the defendant's lawyer.