An Idaho man faces serious charges after threatening former President Donald Trump’s life in a series of disturbing phone calls to Mar-a-Lago.
At a Glance
- Warren Jones Crazybull of Idaho arrested for making multiple threatening calls to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort
- Threats included traveling to Trump’s Bedminster golf club to “down him personally and kill him”
- Crazybull claims Native American heritage and expressed grievances about tribal land issues
- If convicted, Crazybull could face up to five years in prison
- Incident prompts increased security measures for the former president
Disturbing Threats and Swift Action
On July 31, Warren Jones Crazybull, an Idaho resident, allegedly made at least nine threatening phone calls to former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. The calls, which were quickly reported to the Secret Service by Mar-a-Lago security, contained explicit threats against Trump’s life. In one particularly alarming message, Crazybull reportedly stated he would “Find Trump…I am coming down to Bedminster tomorrow. I am going to down him personally and kill him.”
The Secret Service swiftly traced the calls using cellphone data and voice comparison techniques, leading to Crazybull’s arrest on August 1. He was subsequently indicted on August 20 in federal court in Idaho, facing one count of making threats against a former president. Crazybull has pleaded not guilty to the charges, with a trial scheduled for October 28.
An Idaho man has been charged with threatening to kill Donald Trump in phone calls made to the former president’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, according to court documents. https://t.co/kcv4mMmF4T
— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) September 24, 2024
Native American Grievances and Confused Motives
During interviews with the Secret Service, Crazybull appeared paranoid and confused. He claimed to be a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota and expressed grievances about historical treaties and tribal land issues. Crazybull bizarrely blamed both Trump and John F. Kennedy Jr. for broken treaties affecting his tribe’s land.
“There have been two heinous assassination attempts on President Trump, and their violent rhetoric are directly to blame,” said Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung in a statement Monday, referring to Vice President Kamala Harris and liberal Democrats.
Investigators discovered a Facebook page under the alias “Tracy Jones,” which contained additional threats and references to a “shadow government.” The page, which has since been removed by Meta, included jumbled words and hashtags referencing “Turtle Island,” a term for North America used by some Indigenous rights activists.
Broader Concerns and Security Measures
This incident comes on the heels of an unrelated assassination attempt on Trump during a Pennsylvania rally, raising serious concerns about the safety of public figures and the state of political discourse in America. In response to these threats, Trump’s security detail has been increased.
“If the Democrats and Kamala Harris do not come out and apologize for their hateful rhetoric and tone down their attacks that have stoked the flames of violence, they are explicitly advocating for and inciting more bloodshed against President Trump,” Cheung added.
The case highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing free speech with the safety of public figures in an increasingly polarized political climate. As the trial approaches, it serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of extreme political rhetoric and the importance of maintaining civil discourse in our democratic society.
Sources:
- Idaho man charged with threatening to kill Trump in phone calls to Mar-a-Lago
- Mar-a-Lago Caller Charged With Threatening to Kill Trump
- Idaho man arrested for threatening to kill Donald Trump over loss of tribal land
- Sandpoint man arrested for threatening to kill Donald Trump over loss of tribal land
- Idaho Man Charged with Threatening Former President Donald Trump
- Whitmer calls Trump ‘just deranged’ after weekend comments on women and abortion