Presidential elections are currently taking place in the United States, and authorities have arrested two men for making violent threats.
In Ann Arbor, Michigan, federal authorities have reported a serious threat against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. A 25-year-old man, Isaac Sissel, has been charged with threatening to carry out an attack against conservative Christians if Trump wins the election.
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In a separate incident in Jackson, Michigan, Christopher Pierce, a 46-year-old man, has been arrested for allegedly making threats toward a political action committee (PAC) regarding the election. In a menacing email to the PAC, he stated, “I guarantee I can find each and every one of your [expletive] organizees. And we will turn you [expletive] inside out. . . . Now you better stop or I promise you this is badly for all of you [expletive] and we won’t involve [sic] the law… You will shut down your entire organization or it will be shut down for you. 90% of the members of [named organization]… are trained killers. . . . It paints targets on your [sic] backs and the backs of your families. Your call centers have been located. Don’t make these boys and girls go [sic] to work.”
Sissel was detained in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on November 5, following an anonymous tip submitted online to the FBI National Threat Operations Center, which contained alarming statements about an alleged plan to carry out violence.
According to court records, part of the threat read: “I shall carry out an attack against conservative Christian, (sic) filth in the event trump wins the election.” He further stated, “I have a stolen ar15 (sic) and a target I refuse to name so I can continue to get away with my plans.”
He also wrote, “Without a specific victim or ability to find the place I hid the gun, there’s not a thing the FBI can do until I complete the attack.”
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The online threat, which included mentions of hollow-point ammunition and a chemical irritant, led authorities to track Sissel through phone records and an IP address.
Further investigation revealed he was active on multiple Reddit accounts with names such as “ShootUpTrumpRally,” “PlanningToShootTrump,” and “WillShootTrumpSoon.” According to court filings, these accounts were used to make specific threats against Trump and conservative Christians.
When federal agents located and questioned Sissel at a hotel in Canton, he expressed strong feelings against Trump and conservative Christians, admitting he felt progressive and left groups were not violent enough.
Isaac Sissel told authorities that “he wouldn’t kill Trump, but if he knew someone was going to assassinate Trump that it was his duty to not intervene.” He also admitted to hating “conservative Christians, who he enjoyed threatening.”
In addition to his recent online activity, court documents revealed that Sissel does not maintain a permanent residence, instead staying near a rehabilitation center in Ann Arbor. Law enforcement reported that Sissel accepted that he had a history of harassing individuals at the clinic, as well as making threats against officers. While he claimed not to own a firearm, he was found carrying a knife and had both Washington and New York driving licenses in his possession.
Sissel is scheduled to appear in federal court, where he faces serious charges related to threats against a former president and specific communities.
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