FL GOP Congressional Candidate Charged With Threatening To Kill President Trump

ACROSS FLORIDA — A former Florida state prosecutor, Marine Corps veteran and candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives has been arrested in Florida after being accused of threatening to kill President Donald Trump.

The U.S. Department of Justice says the charges come after William L. Upham, 35, of Jacksonville, allegedly posted videos online calling for an armed overthrow of the Trump administration and providing detailed instructions on how to assassinate the president.

Upham is running for election to the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Florida's 5th Congressional District. He is a write-in candidate set to appear on the Republican primary ballot on Aug. 18.

The DOJ said Upham was arrested Wednesday and charged with making threats against the president — a federal offense punishable by up to five years in prison.

Upham made his initial appearance in federal court in Jacksonville and was ordered held pending further proceedings.

According to the U.S. Secret Service, the agency began investigating after receiving reports that Upham had posted videos on social media in which he appeared in his Marine Corps uniform and declared "this is a call to arms," urging people to overthrow the Trump administration.

The criminal complaint filed against Upham says he allegedly instructed viewers on military tactics and recommended using a semi-automatic rifle, such as an AR-15, telling viewers that "the enemy" should be killed with "two shots to the chest" and "one shot to the head."

In a second video, investigators said Upham declared that Trump was "the enemy" who "must be killed."

The criminal complaint alleges the Secret Service first received tips on July 14, including one from the Department of Veterans Affairs, reporting concerns that Upham had recently experienced a psychiatric hold, abruptly left his job as a state prosecutor, and was posting videos referring to Trump as the Antichrist while discussing firearms, armor-piercing ammunition and military tactics.

Court documents show the Secret Service also obtained an email Upham allegedly sent to a newspaper reporter after being questioned about the videos.

In that message, investigators say Upham wrote that he had made the videos "to declare war against President Trump on behalf of God."

He also added, "I will kill President Trump at the time that God chooses, not when I choose. Our country must overthrow President Trump by the violent use of force and kill him."

The complaint further alleges investigators confirmed Upham lived in Jacksonville and determined he had access to firearms, including two guns purchased at a Virginia pawn shop in 2024.

Authorities also cited a July 5 welfare check during which Jacksonville Sheriff's Office deputies reported Upham stated he was "the Messiah" and that God had ordered him to die.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelli Swaney.