Law enforcement authorities are targeting those who make threats against figures in Georgia including the grand jurors who approved an indictment of former President Donald Trump, agencies say.
Earlier, the Sheriff’s Office in Fulton County, Georgia, where Trump was indicted, shared a statement insisting they’d be targeting such individuals. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has confirmed to The Washington Post that investigators with that federal agency are assisting in these efforts. The FBI, however, didn’t provide details, as is routine in the government’s handling of ongoing investigations. “It is our policy not to discuss details of ongoing investigations,” the FBI said. “However, each and every potential threat brought to our attention is taken seriously. Individuals found responsible for making threats in violation of state and/or federal laws will be prosecuted.”
The names of the grand jury members who approved the indictment accusing Trump and 18 of his allies of involvement in a criminal conspiracy to target the state’s election results from 2020 were made public alongside the latest criminal charges themselves. Georgia had already established doing so as the rule, though internet users supporting Trump quickly began to target these individuals, including with threats of violence. A source told the Post that the courthouse building in Fulton County has faced bomb threats in recent days, with county staff members working remotely. (Before the indictment against Trump was issued, Willis had already established a plan for members of her team to work remotely amid other security preparations.)
The trend extends elsewhere, too. A woman from Texas was recently arrested for threatening federal Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is handling the federal criminal case against Trump that covers ground similar to the Georgia matter, meaning his attempts to stay in power despite his loss. And a man from Utah was shot dead by law enforcement amid a standoff after making online threats of death and violence against prominent Democrats.
