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A Maryland man, Donald Franklin Swope, 53, has made an initial appearance in federal court facing domestic terrorism charges, including threats against the President of the United States and federal officials. The charges stem from a series of social media posts made between May and August of this year.
According to information released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, Swope is accused of making repeated Facebook posts between May 12 and July 27 that indicated an intent to harm President Donald J. Trump. Further posts on August 5 allegedly contained threats directed at the United States Secret Service. Swope continued to post threatening content from August 6 through August 8. The criminal complaint outlines charges of making threats against the President, interstate communication containing a threat to harm, and influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official by threatening or injuring a family member.
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This case is part of a broader federal initiative known as National Security Presidential Memorandum 7. This White House-directed effort aims to integrate federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to protect First Amendment rights while simultaneously addressing individuals and organizations involved in political violence. The investigation and prosecution in this matter are being handled by the Joint Task Force Vanguard. It is important to note that a criminal complaint is an accusation, and individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted on all counts, Swope could face a maximum of five years in prison for each charge of making threatening communications and up to 10 years for the charge related to influencing or retaliating against a federal official. Federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors are considered by judges when determining the final sentence, which is typically less than the maximum penalties. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland has commended the U.S. Secret Service for their investigative work in this case.
Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland
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