A Las Vegas man has been identified by federal prosecutors as the individual behind a string of violent threats directed towards public officials in New York, New Jersey, and other regions. Reports suggest that the man was specifically targeting judges connected to criminal cases involving former President Donald Trump.
The U.S. Department has announced that Spencer Christjencody Gear, 32, is facing a 22-count indictment for threatening to injure public officials.
According to court documents, Gear was accused of making threatening phone calls and sending a threatening email to several federal officials and state employees in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. The incidents reportedly occurred between November 30 and July 7.
According to several reports, sources with knowledge of the investigation have identified the individuals who allegedly received threats mentioned in the indictment, although they are only named by their initials.
According to ABC News, the individuals on the list of potential nominees for the US Attorney General role include Juan Merchan, who oversaw Trump’s criminal hush money trial, and Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan District Attorney who brought forth the charges.
During the defendant’s bail hearing in Nevada, his attorney argued that there was no evidence to suggest that his client had taken any actions to carry out the purported threats, as reported by Politico.
In today’s polarized political climate, it has become all too common for individuals to make extreme statements about politics without any real intention of following through on them. This is a point that has been argued by many experts in the field.
According to reports, Gear is facing accusations of threatening U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over two civil trials against Trump in sexual assault lawsuits. In addition, Gear is also accused of threatening five district judges who handled criminal cases related to the January 6th attack on the Capitol.
During the bail hearing, Gear’s alleged message to Merchan and Bragg, dated June 3, was played out loud by prosecutors in court.
According to authorities, a majority of the messages, which were presented in court, contained a significant amount of “violent misogyny.”
According to court records, the court ordered the defendant’s arrest on Tuesday and set the trial date for September 24 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.
The individual in question has been accused of 10 charges related to threatening a federal official, as well as 12 charges related to transmitting a communication that contained a threat to injure.
In a written statement, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the importance of ensuring that public servants can carry out their duties without the fear of losing their lives.
“The Justice Department is committed to preventing acts and threats of violence against public servants and will take all necessary measures to apprehend and prosecute those responsible,” said the spokesperson.
In February, the head of the U.S. Marshals testified that threats against federal judges, prosecutors and public officials have been on the rise, as noted by officials.
According to AP News, the U.S. Marshals investigated a staggering 457 threats aimed at federal judges in 2023, which is more than twice the number from 2021. Some of these threats even involved plans to carry out mass shootings at courthouses, making the situation all the more concerning.
Gear could potentially face a maximum of 10 years in prison for each count of threatening a federal official and up to five years for each count of transmitting a threat to injure, if found guilty in this case.
The case is currently being investigated by the FBI, United States Marshals Service, and U.S. Capitol Police.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Operskalski for the District of Nevada and Trial Attorney Jacob Warren of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
