Business & Tech
CEO of Del Mar Company Placed on Leave After Trump Assassination Comments
PacketSled executive Matt Harrigan allegedly said via social media that he would use a sniper rifle to kill Trump.
SAN DIEGO -- PacketSled, a Del Mar-based software company that specializes in cybersecurity, says it has placed its CEO on leave after he allegedly threatened to kill President-elect Donald Trump with a sniper rifle.
The company quickly distanced itself from CEO Matt Harrigan after he stated on social media that he was going to get a weapon and take Trump out.
On Twitter, he stated he was going to kill the President-Elect, followed by "Bring it, Secret Service." He also posted on Facebook that he would 'perch' himself "where it counts."
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"I'll find you," he said.
In a statement, PacketSled said it takes the posts seriously.
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"Once we were made aware of these comments, we immediately reported this information to the Secret Service and will cooperate fully with any inquiries. These comments do not reflect the views or opinions of PacketSled, its employees, investors or partners. Our CEO has been placed on administrative leave," the statement read in full.
In a subsequent Twitter post, Harrigan apologized, saying that his previous comments were a "flawed joke" and that he had no malicious intent.
My humble apologies that a flawed joke has become public/out of context. My poor judgement does not represent the views of @packetsled …
— Matt Harrigan (@mattharrigan) November 13, 2016
Whether or not it will be enough to save his position -- and possibly career -- remains to be seen.
Image via Shutterstock
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