As law enforcement investigates allegations of intimidation by Shannon Marsle, prosecutors say the suspect also had digital files of child sexual abuse material.
JD Vance at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance is traveling to Milan, Italy, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, raising concerns about how the U.S. team’s Olympians will be received on the world stage.
A 33-year-old Ohio man has been charged with threatening to kill Vice President J.D. Vance, the Department of Justice announced.
On February 6, Secret Service agents arrested Shannon Masleh, who was indicted on two counts by a grand jury.
According to the Feb. 4 indictment (unsealed Feb. 6), Masleh is accused of locating the vice president and threatening to kill him during Vance’s visit to Ohio in January, saying, “I’m going to use my M14 to kill you.”
As investigators investigated his alleged threats against the president, prosecutors said he also had digital files of child sexual abuse material. In addition to charges of intimidation of the president and his successor, Masreh is also charged with receiving and distributing child pornography.
On February 6, Mr. Masleh pleaded not guilty to two charges in federal court in Toledo, records show. Judge Darrell Clay ordered Masleh temporarily detained until his next hearing on February 11.
“While we arrested this man on suspicion of threatening to kill the Vice President of the United States, a serious crime in itself, federal law enforcement discovered that he was also in possession of child sexual abuse material,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a Feb. 6 statement.
A lawyer listed for Mr. Masleh did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Prosecutors said Matre faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for threatening the vice president. Child pornography charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Mr. Vance is a native of Ohio and previously served as the state’s representative in the Senate. USA TODAY has reached out to the vice president’s office for comment.
