A New York man has been charged in federal court after prosecutors say he threatened to kill President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., online.
Rochester man arrested on federal charges
James Gerald Eckert Jr., 39, of Rochester, New York, was arrested and charged with threatening to kill, kidnap or physically harm a member of the president’s immediate family, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
This charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
Mr. Eckert appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was ordered held pending a detention hearing scheduled for July 20.
Prosecutors say the threat was made during a live podcast broadcast
According to a criminal complaint, the U.S. Secret Service was notified on June 18 of multiple threats posted in a live chat on Donald Trump Jr.’s podcast, “Triggered with Donald Trump Jr..”
Prosecutors allege the threat was posted from an account using the username JamesGeraldEckertJr/@JamesGeraldEckertJr and included a threat to kill Trump Jr.
Eckert also livestreamed on the video platform Rumble, where he is suspected of repeating similar threats against Trump Jr. and Rumble’s CEO during an approximately eight-minute broadcast, authorities said.
Previous threats have also been cited.
Federal prosecutors allege Eckert also made threatening social media posts in early June.
Rochester Mayor Malik Evans and his family were threatened in a June 7 Facebook post, according to the complaint. Prosecutors also allege that Eckert posted a threat to New York State Sen. Samra Brooke on his official Facebook page on June 11.
investigation continues
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Rochester Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis A. Testani.
A criminal complaint is an accusation. Eckert is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
