A federal grand jury has indicted Shannon Mathre, 33, of Toledo, Ohio, following an investigation into violent threats directed at U.S. Vice President JD Vance. The Justice Department announced the charges on Friday, detailing a plot that allegedly targeted the Vice President during a planned visit to his home state in January.
According to court documents, Mathre is accused of willfully “making a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon” a protected government official. The specific details of the threat are chilling:
- Weaponry: Mathre allegedly claimed he would use an M14 automatic rifle to carry out the attack.
- Intent: The suspect reportedly stated his intention to track the Vice President’s schedule, saying he was “going to find out where he is going to be” to execute the plan.
- Medium: While the DOJ statement confirmed the threats, it did not specify whether the comments were made on social media, via phone, or in person to an informant.
The U.S. Secret Service, which is responsible for the protection of the President and Vice President, spearheaded the investigation.
Mathre was taken into custody by Secret Service agents on Friday morning without incident.
Because the threat was made against a sitting Vice President, the case is being handled in federal court. Under U.S. law (18 U.S.C. § 871), threatening the President or Vice President is a felony.
If convicted, Mathre faces significant prison time. Threatening a protected official typically carries a maximum penalty of:
- 5 years in federal prison.
- A fine of up to $250,000.
- A term of supervised release following imprisonment.
The Justice Department has emphasized that “violence and threats of violence have no place in our political discourse,” a sentiment echoed by federal law enforcement as they ramp up security for high-profile political figures leading into the 2026 mid-term cycle.
Mathre is expected to make his initial court appearance in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio early next week. Prosecutors are likely to argue for his detention without bail, citing the violent nature of the alleged threat and the possession of a high-powered firearm.
