Maryland Man Accused Of Threatening To Behead President Trump

BALTIMORE, MD — A Maryland man is accused of repeatedly threatening President Donald Trump and later targeting U.S. Secret Service agents in a series of Facebook posts, according to prosecutors.

Donald Franklin Swope, 53, is charged with threatening the president, interstate communication containing a threat to harm and influencing, impeding or retaliating against a federal official by threatening or injuring a family member, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland.

Federal court records said Swope has addresses in Clear Spring and Williamsport.

According to an affidavit filed in the case, the Secret Service began investigating Swope after the FBI received a report in July about a Facebook post in which he threatened to "behead" Trump. The post also tagged more than 20 people and organizations, including the Department of Homeland Security, Department of War and FBI.

Prosecutors said Swope repeatedly posted about harming Trump between May 12 and July 27. On Aug. 5, he began posting threats directed at the Secret Service and continued making threatening posts through Aug. 8.

The affidavit also details numerous posts prosecutors said Swope made after Secret Service agents attempted to locate and interview him on Aug. 5.

Investigators said some posts directly addressed the agency and threatened agents and their families. In another, Swope claimed he would "destroy everyone of you in less than 60 minutes."

Swope faces up to five years in prison on each threatening communications charge and up to 10 years on the charge involving threats against a federal official if convicted, prosecutors said.