Federal prosecutors have charged a Brooklyn man with threatening President Donald Trump after authorities say he submitted a series of violent messages through the White House website, including one that allegedly promised a "bullet in the brain" at a future public appearance.
The case, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, centers on Justin Christopher Moore, 53, who prosecutors allege repeatedly threatened President Trump in messages sent on May 24. According to court documents, investigators were able to quickly identify Moore because the messages allegedly included his full name, address, phone number and email address.
Federal authorities moved rapidly after receiving the threats. By the following day, agents had located Moore at his Brooklyn residence, where they approached him outside his home. According to the criminal complaint, investigators confronted him about the messages and asked whether he had submitted them.
Court filings state that Moore responded, "Yeah, I did."
Prosecutors allege the threats were explicit and referenced plans to target Trump during a future public appearance. One message cited in the complaint allegedly stated that Moore was "in the process of planning your execution." Other communications referenced the use of firearms and knives, according to charging documents.
The complaint also alleges Moore admitted making threats against Vice President JD Vance and numerous members of Congress. According to investigators, he referenced threats directed toward "about 18 reps," expanding the scope of concerns beyond the president alone.
Authorities have not publicly alleged that Moore obtained weapons or took operational steps toward carrying out an attack. However, prosecutors argued that the nature of the statements and Moore's own admissions warranted immediate intervention.
The arrest comes as federal agencies continue to devote significant resources to monitoring threats against elected officials. Law enforcement officials routinely distinguish between protected political speech and statements that cross into criminal threats, particularly when they involve specific targets, methods or planned locations.
During an initial court appearance on May 26, a federal judge ordered Moore held without release pending further proceedings. According to court records, the court cited concerns about public safety, the seriousness of the allegations and what it described as the strength of the evidence presented by prosecutors.
The case also raises questions about Moore's mental health history. According to reporting by the New York Daily News referenced in court discussions, Moore has previously been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. How those diagnoses may factor into legal arguments regarding intent, competency or criminal responsibility remains unclear.
One issue likely to receive attention in future hearings is a statement Moore allegedly made to investigators indicating that he had not yet begun planning an actual attack. Defense attorneys could point to that remark as evidence that the threats did not progress beyond online statements, while prosecutors are expected to focus on the repeated and detailed nature of the communications.
Federal authorities have emphasized that the charges currently concern alleged threats rather than a completed attack plan. The prosecution's case relies heavily on the digital messages, the identifying information attached to them, and Moore's alleged admissions after agents contacted him.
Moore is scheduled to return to federal court on June 9, where prosecutors are expected to provide additional details supporting allegations that he "knowingly and wilfully" threatened the life of the President of the United States.
