Violent Political Threats Led to Arrests and Charges in Michigan

Two men were arrested in Michigan on Election Day: One man allegedly sent threatening messages to authorities and mentioned killing Donald Trump during an FBI interview; The other man, who bragged about his extremist ties in communications, also vowed to kill Trump, the Fed alleges. Injuring or killing members of an anonymous political action committee.

The FBI and Department of Justice announced the arrests Tuesday afternoon.

Isaac Sissel, 25, of Michigan, was arrested and charged Tuesday with sending threatening messages, according to authorities.

FBI Social media site Reddit voluntarily reported disturbing messages from a user named “ShootUpTrumpRally,” who used similar nicknames such as “WillShootTrumpSoon” and “PlanningToShootTrump,” court filings said.

Authorities said they were able to identify Sissel by tracking his IP address to the University of Michigan. The FBI National Threat Center in West Virginia received an anonymous threat from the website on Nov. 2, according to court records.

The threat stated: “If Trump wins the election, I will launch an attack on conservative Christian (sic) scum. I stole Ar1 and a target I refuse to name so I can continue to get away with my plans. “Without the ability to find a specific victim or where I hid the gun, there is nothing the FBI can do until I complete the attack.”

The FBI said it responded to the message by asking questions about access to guns.

“I already own this crap,” one reply read.

Authorities said they were able to trace the message to Sissel’s phone and then interview him at a Travelodge motel in Canton on Monday.

No firearms, ammunition or similar equipment were found, but agents said that wasn’t surprising because Sissel claimed he “hid the gun.”

During the interview, Sissel allegedly said Trump was a “threat” and a “scum” and believed Trump should be assassinated.

“Sissel said she would not kill Trump, but that if she knew someone was going to assassinate Trump, it was her (Sissel’s) duty not to intervene,” an FBI affidavit states.

Although authorities found Sissel in Ann Arbor, he allegedly told them he had access to firearms while living in Washington state, but did not have access to firearms while in Michigan. The FBI said Sissel did not appear to maintain a “consistent residence” and that Sissel had credentials from New York and Washington.

Sissel was in Michigan the day Trump rallied in the state.

Sissel appeared before a magistrate judge for the first time since his arrest Tuesday morning, and records show he is currently in custody. The next hearing date will be November 7 at 13.00

Elsewhere in Michigan, authorities arrested and charged Christopher Pierce, 46, of Jackson.

An FBI affidavit reviewed by HuffPost on Tuesday shows Pierce is accused of sending two online messages on Oct. 2 threatening to injure or kill people affiliated with his political action committee. The PAC’s name is not listed in court records.

Prosecutors said Pierce used an easily identifiable Gmail account to send messages to the PAC. In the space to enter his name on the message form sent to the PAC, Pierce allegedly wrote: “Your worst nightmare.”

The message promised to “find every single one of your damn organizations” (sic) and appeared to suggest he might be a member of – or at least sympathetic to – the far right “Three Percent” network.

“I am a member of those three American patriotic whores. And we’ll turn you motherfuckers inside out. I’ve already managed to locate one of your call centers (sic). “You will shut this shit down or we will shut it down for you permanently,” the message continued.

The Vice President was also summoned Kamala Harris “Kamala Harrisis” refers to the terrorist organization ISIS.

A separate electronic communication Pierce is accused of sending in October said the “triad of American patriots” were “trained killers” who were “trained by Uncle Sam” and that the PAC “had call centers.”

“Don’t force these boys and girls to go to work,” Pierce allegedly wrote.

The FBI said it interviewed Pierce at his home in Jackson on Oct. 30 and said Pierce was “generally hostile” toward agents through his front glass door.

Representatives testified that they read the messages Pierce sent to him, but that Pierce “did not view the emails as threatening.”

Prosecutors stated in the criminal complaint that this was not the first time Pierce had been involved in an alleged threat.

On June 29, 2022, the FBI reported that Pierce used an Instagram account with the username “pierce_overheard_door” to attack a witness who testified publicly before the now-defunct House select committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. claims .

Court records do not list the witness’ name, but the date of Pierce’s alleged post shows he was referring to witness Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide. Donald TrumpMark Meadows, who was once chief of staff.

hutchsinon made explosive statement To the January 6 committee, including revelations the former president knew this rebels were armed but he believed that they would not harm him.

29 June Pierce’s message, quoted by prosecutors, stated that “what happens next” “January 6 will look like a Sunday walk in the park” and that Hutchinson had committed “career suicide.”

“Where exactly does one of the richest men in the world think he can hide from someone in his army (sic)? Because there is no politician in this country that can come within 100 miles of this bitch! You can’t be trusted! And we all know what happens to snitches,” Pierce wrote.

FBI agents said they interviewed Pierce at his home in September 2022 about these messages. Agents also claimed they asked Pierce about his comment suggesting there would be “no election in 2024.” In response, Pierce allegedly told the agents that he was trying to “highlight an ongoing movement encouraging voters not to vote at all.”

“He stated that the federal government was already ‘fake’ and ‘illegitimate,’ which he thought was why the FBI was at his door to intimidate him,” an FBI affidavit said.

During the same interview, agents said they warned Pierce that threatening him could lead to federal charges. Pierce allegedly responded that soon “the country would be dragged into civil war.”

It’s unclear whether Pierce has retained an attorney. He was released on $10,000 bond and appeared in court on November 26.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said CNN As of Tuesday afternoon, it was stated that the state had received “serious in nature” threats as voting continued, but none of them “were deemed credible.”