Phoenix Man Arrested for Making Online Death Threats Against the President and Vice President

PHOENIX, Ariz. –David Michael Hanson, 41, of Phoenix, was arrested on Wednesday for making online threats against the President and Vice-President. Hanson was charged by federal criminal complaint on Tuesday with five counts of Threats Against the President and Successors to the Presidency and five counts of Interstate Communication of Threats.

The complaint alleges that in November and December of 2023, while living in Arizona, Hanson used a social media platform to post threats to murder the President and Vice President of the United States. On November 19, 2023, Hanson posted online a series of threatening statements including one that stated, “#joeAndKamala I’m asking you to resign on Monday your alternative is death brutally murdered.” After the U.S. Secret Service spoke to Hanson and warned him that it was a federal crime to post such threats, on December 23, 2023, Hanson posted another series of similar threats aimed at the President and Vice-President.

Each count of Threats Against the President and Successors to the Presidency carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. Each count of Interstate Communication of Threats carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

A complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The United States Secret Service is conducting the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, is handling the prosecution.
 

CASE NUMBER:           24-6010MJ
RELEASE NUMBER:    2024-010_Hanson

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
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