Federal authorities have charged Shawn Monper, a 32-year-old Pennsylvania man, with issuing violent threats against President Donald Trump and other government officials through online posts using the alias “Satan.”
The Department of Justice announced the charges Friday following an FBI investigation into disturbing content posted on YouTube.
Court documents reveal Monper, a resident of Butler Township, obtained firearms shortly after Trump’s 2017 inauguration and began accumulating ammunition. His online activity escalated in February with explicit calls to assassinate Trump, billionaire Elon Musk, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement leadership. Investigators highlighted one particularly alarming March post where Monper stated his intention to kill the former president during a congressional address.
Pennsylvania man CHARGED with threatening to ‘assault and murder the President’ — DOJ
On the site of the first ASSASSINATION attempt of Trump pic.twitter.com/CXAT431irO
— RT (@RT_com) April 11, 2025The case carries heightened significance as Butler Township was the site of the July 13 assassination attempt where a bullet grazed Trump’s ear during a campaign rally, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries. While no connection exists between Monper and that incident, prosecutors emphasized the pattern of threats emanating from the area.
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Attorney General Pam Bondi affirmed the Justice Department’s commitment to pursue such cases aggressively, stating: “Rest assured that whenever and wherever threats of assassination or mass violence occur, this Department will find, arrest, and prosecute suspects to the fullest extent of the law.” Monper remains in federal custody, facing charges that could carry substantial prison time if convicted.
