A federal grand jury indicted a 33-year-old Ohio man on Friday with threatening to kill Vice President JD Vance with an automatic weapon, the Justice Department said in a news release, as the US grapples with rising political violence and threats. The indictment further alleges Mathre distributed child sexual abuse materials. Advertisement AdvertisementMathre said he cannot comment on the second count of the indictment regarding child sexual abuse materials, “as the government has not provided any” documents associated with the charge. Additionally, he faces a maximum 20-year prison sentence for the child sexual abuse materials charge and a $250,000 fine, if he is found guilty. Recent acts of political violence have reignited the long-standing question of how to best keep public officials safe.

Source: CNN February 08, 2026 00:49 UTC