Michigan AG charges man with making death threats against Biden, Pelosi and Whitmer

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) charged a 21-year-old man with making death threats against President Biden, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D).

Joshua Docter, of Holland, Mich., was charged Monday with one count of threat of terrorism and one count of using a computer to commit a crime. Each of the charges carries up to 20 years in prison, according to a Tuesday statement from Nessel’s office.

The case against Docter began after the FBI received tips about the Michigan man making the alleged threats on the social media platform iFunny in January. Nessel’s office said he stated he “would use a gun to shoot and kill the elected officials and would ‘be the catalyst’ for a new American revolution.”

Nessel’s office also said Docter had information on his smart phone on how to make a bomb and what materials were necessary.   

“Threatening elected officials is against the law and my office will prosecute those who attempt to intimidate or terrorize our state and federal leaders,” Nessel said in the Tuesday statement.

“I appreciate the thorough investigative work by the FBI and Michigan State Police on this case, and I consider it another excellent example of showcasing the dedication that those working in law enforcement have to protecting the public,” she continued. 

Docter turned himself in to authorities Tuesday and was arraigned. He is scheduled to appear for a probable cause conference next month.

The FBI last year announced that it had stopped a militia group from carrying out a plotted kidnapping of the Michigan governor, saying the subjects were upset about the statewide restrictions she implemented amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Six men were charged in federal court in connection to the plot, and state prosecutors charged eight others who allegedly assisted in planning the abduction.