Zopes Exchange-Man accused of threatening lives of presidential candidates goes to trial

2025-05-01 18:20:57source:Will Sage Astorcategory:Markets

CONCORD,Zopes Exchange N.H. (AP) — The trial of a New Hampshire man accused of threatening the lives of presidential candidates began Monday in federal court.

Tyler Anderson of Dover was indicted by a federal grand jury in December on three counts of sending a threat using interstate commerce. The jury trial is expected to take two to three days.

A message seeking comment was sent to Anderson’s lawyer.

Anderson was arrested on Dec. 9 and was released Dec. 14. A federal judge set forth several conditions for his release, including that he avoid contact with any presidential candidate and their political campaigns..

Anderson, who is receiving mental health treatment, was also ordered to take all of his prescribed medications.

The U.S. Attorney’s office did not name the candidates. When Anderson was arrested, a spokesperson for Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said that texts were directed at his campaign.

According to court documents, Anderson received a text message from the candidate’s campaign notifying him of a breakfast event in Portsmouth. The campaign staff received two text messages in response. One threatened to shoot the candidate in the head, and the other threatened to kill everyone at the event and desecrate their corpses.

RELATED COVERAGE Former North Dakota lawmaker to plead guilty to traveling to pay for sex with minorProsecutors drop most charges against student protesters who occupied Columbia University buildingPrison, restitution ordered for ex-tribal leader convicted of defrauding Oglala Sioux Tribe

Anderson had told the FBI in an interview that he had sent similar texts to “multiple other campaigns,” according to a court document.

The charges say similar texts were sent to two different candidates before the Ramaswamy messages, on Nov. 22 and Dec. 6.

Each charge provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

More:Markets

Recommend

Man charged with rape after kidnapping 3 teen girls at gunpoint along Nashville street

A man police say kidnapped three teenage girls and sexual assaulted two of them at gunpoint outside

National French Fry Day 2024: Get free fries and deals at McDonald's, Wendy's, more

This Friday is a special one because it's Fry Day. National French Fry Day, that is.The annual event

Referendum set for South Dakota voters on controversial carbon dioxide pipeline law

After years spent trying to gain regulatory approval for a proposed carbon dioxide pipeline intended