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Tag: Assassination

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September 22, 2026
News
Politics

DATA: One-Third of Democrats Would Feel Positive About Trump Being Assassinated.

A new poll shows troubling attitudes towards political violence among Democrat voters, with significant support for President Trump’s assassination.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: A new poll found that significant numbers of Democrat voters expressed positive reactions to various scenarios that would remove President Donald J. Trump from office, including some involving his death or a military takeover of the government. According to the Center for Strategic Politics survey, 59 percent of Democratic respondents said they would feel “very positive” or “somewhat positive” if a military junta overthrew Trump and seized control of the government, while 55 percent said they would react positively to news that Trump had died peacefully. The poll also found that 32 percent of Democratic respondents would feel positive if Trump was assassinated at a rally, compared with 43 percent who said they would react negatively and 25 percent who would be neutral.
📺 DETAIL: Support was higher for constitutional or political means of removing Trump, with 87 percent saying they would react positively to impeachment and removal, and 84 percent saying the same about removal under the 25th Amendment. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has left open the possibility of another impeachment effort, saying earlier this month that Democrats had “not ruled anything in and… not ruled anything out” and would “follow the facts.” The survey further found that large majorities of Democrats support prosecuting Trump administration officials over immigration enforcement, the war in Iran, and strikes against suspected drug traffickers. Other proposals receiving majority support included prosecuting Trump and Biden government officials over the Israel-Hamas war, ending the Senate filibuster, and expanding the Supreme Court. Among potential 2028 Democratic presidential contenders, Kamala Harris led with 25 percent, followed by Gavin Newsom at 15 percent, Pete Buttigieg at 13 percent, Jon Ossoff at 10 percent, Mark Kelly at nine percent, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at eight percent. The poll surveyed 683 Democratic voters on September 3 and from September 8-10, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.75 percentage points.
🎯 IMPACT: The poll highlights the intensity of Democratic opposition to President Donald J. Trump, with substantial portions of respondents expressing support for extraordinary measures, including death or a military coup, to remove him from office. The findings could fuel debate over political polarization and left-wing extremism ahead of the midterm elections.
📺 FLASHBACK: The poll follows multiple assassination attempts on Trump during his 2024 candidacy and presidency, including a shooting in Butler where a gunman hit his ear and killed one of his supporters, Corey Comperatore.

Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images.

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A new poll shows troubling attitudes towards political violence among Democrat voters, with significant support for President Trump's assassination.

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September 15, 2026
Crime
News

Would-Be Trump Assassin Used Alias, Had Cremation Funded by ‘Anonymous Donor.’

Newly released FBI documents shed light on the background and troubling behavior of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the man who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump in Butler in 2024.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Newly disclosed Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) documents have provided fresh details about Thomas Matthew Crooks, who attempted to assassinate President Donald J. Trump during a July 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The records, provided to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley as part of his investigation into the shooting, show that Crooks used the alias “Bob Dole” to receive packages containing parts, tools, and other items intended to increase the capacity of his rifle.
📺 DETAIL: According to interviews with Crooks’s father, his son began using pseudonyms after a family bank account was hacked. His father also said Crooks taught him to use a virtual private network (VPN) and secure browser, and believed that purchases made under a false name could not be traced back to a real bank account. The FBI records portray Crooks as increasingly withdrawn while growing up, with his father recalling that he rarely expressed strong emotions, acted out at school when bored, and later had difficulty communicating with teachers. His father also said Crooks frequently talked to himself, had become more interested in firearms as a teenager, and eventually developed an interest in long-distance shooting, although he initially struggled to hit targets. The documents further state that an anonymous donor paid for Crooks’s cremation after he was killed by counter-snipers in Butler, adding another previously undisclosed detail to the ongoing investigation into the assassination attempt.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “When Thomas was born he did not scream and he was always quiet from that point on.” – Crooks’s father, Matthew Crooks 
🎯 IMPACT: The documents raise further questions about what investigators knew about Crooks’s preparation and whether additional warning signs could have been identified before the attack. The revelations come as the Senate Judiciary Committee continues its oversight of the FBI and law enforcement response surrounding the attempted assassination.

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Newly released FBI documents shed light on the background and troubling behavior of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the man who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump in Butler in 2024.

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July 10, 2026
Crime
News

Kirk Family Welcomes Conclusion of Alleged Assassin’s Preliminary Hearing as an ‘Important Step Forward.’

The family of Charlie Kirk emphasizes the need for transparency as they seek justice in the case against Tyler Robinson, charged with Kirk’s murder.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, charged with the murder of Charlie Kirk, has concluded. The Kirk family issued a statement calling the hearing “an important step forward in the pursuit of justice” while calling for greater transparency in the judicial process.
📺 DETAIL: In a statement, the family thanked supporters for their prayers and kindness throughout the emotionally difficult proceedings and said the evidence presented provided some comfort by showing what happened that day. They also expressed hope that the case will continue through a process that is transparent, with minimal redactions. During the hearing, attorney Jeffrey Neiman, representing the Kirk family, argued that all exhibits admitted into evidence should be visible to those lawfully present in the courtroom, saying the family’s ability to meaningfully observe the proceedings had been limited. Neiman contended that withholding evidence from public view could fuel speculation and conspiracy theories while undermining confidence in the judicial system. He urged the court to allow unredacted evidence to be shown publicly, arguing that safeguards already exist to protect the defendant’s right to a fair trial. Judge Graf ultimately declined to change the existing procedure, ruling that each exhibit would continue to be reviewed individually before being admitted, displayed in the courtroom, or released to the media.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “The conclusion of the preliminary hearing marks an important step forward in the pursuit of justice for Charlie. Our family is grateful for the prayers, support, and kindness that has been extended to us, especially through these unimaginably painful and emotionally demanding proceedings. As difficult as these last few days have been, it brings our family comfort to know that the world has witnessed the overwhelming evidence of what occurred to Charlie that day. Nothing will ever undo the loss of our beloved Charlie. As this case moves into its next phase, we pray that truth will continue to be heard through a process that is fair, transparent, and grounded in the facts.” – Kirk family statement

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The family of Charlie Kirk emphasizes the need for transparency as they seek justice in the case against Tyler Robinson, charged with Kirk's murder.

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June 3, 2026
Media
News

A New Date for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Disrupted by Trump Assassination Attempt, Has Been Set.

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner will return with enhanced security measures after being disrupted earlier this year by an assassination attempt against President Donald J. Trump.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) has announced that its annual dinner will take place next month after being postponed following a failed assassination attempt against President Donald J. Trump.
📺 DETAIL: The upcoming event has been scheduled for July 24 in Washington, D.C. No venue has been confirmed at this time. The President has confirmed that he will attend. “In a sign of strength and fortitude, it was just announced that The White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which violently ended rather abruptly on April 25th, will be rescheduled to July 24th. This announcement is a very good thing in that we cannot allow Lunatics to change our way of life, or even its scheduling. I was asked to be there, and speak, by Weijia Jiang, President of The White House Correspondents’ Association, and have accepted,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The dinner is also set to be attended by various journalists, officials, and political figures. The event will include tighter security measures following the failed assassination attempt against Trump during the original event earlier in the year.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “It will be a statement that violence has no place in American life and a free press will not be intimidated into silence… We will not allow an act of violence to have the last word… This dinner will not only be an opportunity to carry out our program. It will be a statement that violence has no place in American life and a free press will not be intimidated into silence.” – WHCA President Weijia Jiang
📺 FLASHBACK: The original WHCA dinner was postponed after 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen allegedly attempted to assassinate President Trump and other senior officials at the event. This was the third attempt on the President’s life. Allen faces multiple charges, including the attempted assassination of the President of the United States, punishable by up to life imprisonment, as well as interstate transportation of a firearm to commit a felony and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.

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The White House Correspondents' Dinner will return with enhanced security measures after being disrupted earlier this year by an assassination attempt against President Donald J. Trump.

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March 31, 2026
News

Tyler Robinson’s Attorneys Continue Delay Tactics in Charlie Kirk Assassination Trial.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Attorneys for Tyler Robinson, charged with the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk, have requested a delay in the preliminary hearing, citing what they claim is inconclusive bullet analysis results from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tyler Robinson, 22, is charged with the murder of Charlie Kirk. Prosecutors and defense attorneys are disputing evidence in the case.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The assassination occurred in September 2025 at Utah Valley University. Robinson is due back in court on April 17 for a hearing on a defense motion.

🎯IMPACT: Despite the defense claims about the bullet fragments, prosecutors note that Robinson’s DNA has been found on the rifle’s trigger, on the spent cartridge casing, and on two unspent casings found at the scene.

IN FULL

Attorneys for Tyler Robinson, 22, the man charged with the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder and conservative organizer Charlie Kirk, are now requesting a delay in the May preliminary hearing. They cite what they call an inconclusive report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regarding the bullet recovered during Kirk’s autopsy and a rifle found near the scene.

Importantly, the ATF report—which has yet to be released to the public—appears to be inconclusive because the bullet itself shattered after striking Kirk in the neck and subsequently hitting materials behind the TPUSA founder. Currently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is analyzing the lead composition of the bullet fragments, which will provide further clarity on the bullet’s origins.

Notably, prosecutors have already submitted evidence that shows DNA found on the trigger of the rifle used to assassinate Kirk matches Tyler Robinson, along with the DNA found on the spent cartridge casing, and two unfired cartridges. Still, the defense attorneys from Robinson—possibly hoping to confuse potential jurors ahead of jury selection—claim that the forensic analysis shows multiple sets of DNA on the rifle. This would be expected of a weapon that was used or handled by several individuals over time. However, the defense has not explained Robinson’s DNA being found on the spent and unspent cartridges.

The defense team for Robinson has been accused of employing a number of delay tactics to drag out the trial, while fomenting conspiracy theories. Despite their demands for further DNA and forensic analysis, much of the evidence points to Robinson—including text messages from Robinson to his transgender lover, Lance Twiggs, in which he admits to the killing and states he’d “had enough of [Kirk’s] hatred.”

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March 13, 2026
Crime
News

Charlie Kirk’s Alleged Assassin Is Back in Court, Demanding Judge Ban Media, Cameras from Trial.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Tyler Robinson, accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, is appearing in court as the defense seeks to restrict public access to case details.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tyler Robinson, Judge Tony Graf Jr., and the Utah County prosecutor’s office.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Today’s court appearance for Robinson concerns a motion affecting a separate court hearing scheduled for April 17, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Specifically, Mr. Robinson seeks to take evidence in a closed setting regarding the unfairly prejudicial and misleading media coverage and the improper statements of government officials in order to avoid republicizing the same.” — Defense filing

🎯IMPACT: The move is the latest delay tactic being used by Robinson’s attorneys after they dragged out a motion—and subsequent hearing—for weeks in a long-shot attempt to disqualify the entire Utah County prosecutor’s office from the case last month.

IN FULL

Tyler Robinson, charged in the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk, will appear in court today as his defense team seeks to limit public access to certain court filings, as well as restrict media coverage and exclude cameras from an upcoming April 17 hearing. The move is the latest delay tactic being used by Robinson’s attorneys after they dragged out a motion—and subsequent hearing—for weeks in a long-shot attempt to disqualify the entire Utah County prosecutor’s office from the case last month.

“Specifically, Mr. Robinson seeks to take evidence in a closed setting regarding the unfairly prejudicial and misleading media coverage and the improper statements of government officials in order to avoid republicizing the same,” the defense filing reads, continuing, “Mr. Robinson also asks this court to take evidence regarding the privacy violations detailed in the ‘motion to exclude cameras’ in a closed setting, to, again, avoid reiterating the violative material.”

The attorneys for the 22-year-old Robinson plan to present what they claim is evidence of “harmful and prejudicial media coverage” at the hearing in April. “While there is simply not enough time to present all of what is referenced in the ‘motion to exclude cameras,’ the compilation anticipated will highlight the most egregious and most concerning media coverage impacting Mr. Robinson’s case,” the filing states.

Courtroom cameras and media presence have been a constant point of contention for Robinson’s defense team. On several occasions, they have pushed Judge Tony Graf Jr. to either limit or ban the recording of proceedings. While Graf has been sensitive to the defense’s argument that showing Robinson’s handcuffs or leg shackles on camera would be prejudicial, he has otherwise been reluctant to limit the media’s presence.

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March 4, 2026
Crime
News

Iran-Backed Pakistani on Trial Over Plot to Assassinate Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Pakistani national was accused of plotting with Iran to kill U.S. officials as part of a broader murder-for-hire scheme.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Asif Merchant, federal prosecutors, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents, and unnamed informants. President Donald J. Trump and former President Joe Biden were mentioned as targets.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Merchant flew from Pakistan to the United States in an attempt to recruit hitmen, and was arrested one day before the assassination attempt against President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This dangerous murder-for-hire plot was allegedly orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and is straight out of the Iranian regime’s playbook.” – Former FBI Director Christopher Wray

🎯IMPACT: Merchant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted. The trial highlights ongoing threats from the Iranian regime against U.S. interests.

IN FULL

Federal prosecutors say Pakistani national Asif Merchant plotted with Iranian contacts to assassinate U.S. political figures, reportedly including President Donald J. Trump. Merchant is on trial in Brooklyn, New York, facing charges of attempting to commit terrorism and participating in a murder-for-hire scheme. Authorities allege Merchant was indicted in July 2024 after being recorded during a meeting with a confidential informant, where he outlined a plan on a napkin to kill an unnamed politician.

Prosecutors say he later attempted to hire two men to carry out the killing, offering $5,000 each. The would-be hitmen were undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents. Merchant was arrested as he attempted to leave the United States.

Court evidence also includes graphic images that Merchant allegedly shared online depicting violence against Trump, including a severed head and a gravestone bearing Trump’s name. Some posts dated back to 2020 and referenced former President Joe Biden. One image showed a mock wanted poster for Trump with the caption, “Iran issues an arrest warrant for Trump.”

The case comes amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran following military operations ordered by Trump targeting Iranian-linked interests. Critics have argued that some of those actions lacked clear congressional authorization, while others maintain that Trump acted within his Article II powers as commander-in-chief.

Then-FBI Director Christopher Wray said, “This dangerous murder-for-hire plot was allegedly orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and is straight out of the Iranian regime’s playbook.” Merchant’s defense team denies the allegations and contends the case is politically motivated.

Merchant’s prosecution follows other cases involving alleged threats against Trump. In February 2026, Ryan Routh,  accused of attempting to assassinate Trump, was sentenced to life in prison after authorities said he took substantial steps toward carrying out an attack. Months earlier, Routh reportedly sought transfer to a prison in a state permitting assisted suicide, stating he wished to pursue euthanasia while incarcerated.

In June 2025, authorities also charged an alleged Antifa-linked sharpshooter in connection with threats against Trump, accusing the suspect of making explicit statements about conducting a sniper-style attack before being apprehended.

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February 24, 2026
News

Judge REJECTS Motion to Disqualify Prosecutors in Charlie Kirk Assassination Case.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A defense motion to disqualify the Utah County Attorney’s Office from prosecuting Tyler Robinson was denied by Judge Tony Graf.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Defendant Tyler Robinson, Judge Tony Graf, and the Utah County Attorney’s Office.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The hearing took place on Tuesday in Utah.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Because defendant has not established a factual basis for a finding of conflict of interest or an objective appearance of impropriety rising to constitutional concern, his motion is respectfully denied.” – Judge Tony Graf

🎯IMPACT: The Utah County Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute the case against Tyler Robinson.

IN FULL

Utah Judge Tony Graf has denied a key motion brought by the defense team representing Tyler Robinson, who is accused of assassinating Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk. The motion sought to disqualify the Utah County Attorney’s Office from prosecuting the case.

The defense argued that a conflict of interest existed because the daughter of one of the attorneys in the prosecutor’s office was present at the Utah college campus where the assassination occurred. They contended that this warranted disqualifying the entire office.

In his ruling, Judge Graf stated, “Defendant argues that high level prosecutor assigned to this case has a concurrent conflict of interest, and because no efforts were made to screen him, the entire office should be disqualified. Because defendant has not established a factual basis for a finding of conflict of interest or an objective appearance of impropriety rising to constitutional concern, his motion is respectfully denied.”

The assassination of Charlie Kirk occurred on September 10, 2025, when Kirk was speaking at a political event in the courtyard area of Utah Valley University. While addressing the crowd, Kirk was shot in the neck and later pronounced deceased at Timpanogos Regional Hospital. Robinson faces capital murder charges, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty.

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February 10, 2026
William Upton
World

Colombia’s Anti-Trump Leftist President Claims He Survived an Assassination Attempt on Monday.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Colombia’s left-wing President Gustavo Petro claimed on Tuesday that he survived an attempted assassination late Monday night as he traveled by helicopter.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Gustavo Petro, ex-FARC leader Ivan Mordisco, and Colombian drug cartels.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attempted assassination was claimed by Petro on Tuesday, with it allegedly taking place the day before, on Monday, February 9, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We headed out to open sea for four hours and I arrived somewhere we weren’t supposed to go, escaping from being killed.” — Colombian President Gustavo Petro.

🎯IMPACT: In recent weeks, Colombia has seen an explosion of political violence—something not entirely unusual in the country during an election cycle. Notably, Petro made a similar assassination claim in 2024.

IN FULL

Colombia’s left-wing President Gustavo Petro, who publicly referenced “getting rid of” U.S. President Donald J. Trump last year, claimed on Tuesday that he survived an attempted assassination late Monday night as he traveled by helicopter. According to Petro, the helicopter was unable to land at its destination along Colombia’s Caribbean coast over fears that drug traffickers “were going to shoot” at it or the president as it attempted to touch down.

“We headed out to open sea for four hours and I arrived somewhere we weren’t supposed to go, escaping from being killed,” Petro claimed during a televised meeting of his cabinet on Tuesday. The claim comes as Colombia enters its presidential election cycle, where Petro’s leftist Colombia Humana party is expected to lose power. Notably, Petro himself is term-limited and cannot seek re-election.

In recent weeks, Colombia has seen an explosion of political violence—something not entirely unusual in the country during an election cycle. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald J. Trump has accused the Colombian leader of colluding with violent drug cartels to facilitate the trafficking of illegal narcotics through neighboring Venezuela and then onwards to Mexico, the United States, and Europe.

Petro has denied these allegations, going so far as to claim that the cartels have been targeting him since 2022, when he took office as Colombia’s president. He claims that ex-FARC leader Ivan Mordisco specifically wants to see him dead over Petro’s—a former member of FARC—role in brokering an agreement which saw FARC disarm in 2016.

Notably, Petro made a similar assassination claim in 2024.

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February 6, 2026
Crime

Man Charged Over Alleged Assassination Plot Against Trump’s OMB Director Russ Vought.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Maryland man has been arrested and charged with attempted murder in connection with an alleged plot targeting Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Colin Demarco, a 26-year-old Maryland resident, and Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred in August 2025 at Vought’s residence in Northern Virginia. Demarco was arrested last month and is being held in Arlington County.

💬KEY QUOTE: Demarco admitted he wanted to confront Vought about Project 2025, expressing fears of a “fascist takeover,” and stating that President Donald J. Trump’s 2024 election victory was the “lowest point in his life.”

🎯IMPACT: The arrest and subsequent charges are the latest notable instance of political violence tied to Democrat claims that President Trump and Republicans are “fascists.”

IN FULL

A Maryland man was formally charged on Thursday with attempted murder for allegedly plotting to assassinate Russell Vought, the director of the Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Project 2025 architect. “Colin Demarco, 26, of Rockville, MD is charged with Attempted Murder, Criminal Solicitation to Commit Murder, Carrying a Concealed Weapon and Wearing a Mask in Public to Conceal Identity,” the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) announced, adding, “He was taken into custody at his residence on January 16 and later extradited to the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

In August last year, Demarco allegedly appeared outside Vought’s Northern Virginia home and was observed by a neighbor exhibiting suspicious behavior. According to the ACPD, “A witness reported observing a male suspect, who was wearing a surgical mask and rubber gloves, carrying a backpack and appeared to be concealing a firearm under his shirt, on the victim’s porch. The suspect subsequently approached the witness and inquired about the victim before leaving the scene.”

The ACPD states that officers were dispatched to the residence, but a canvass of the area did not turn up a suspect. However, a home surveillance camera captured an image of Demarco, leading to his eventual identification by law enforcement. Consequently, police executed search warrants for digital records associated with the suspect, including “digital evidence that the suspect had obtained directions to the victim’s residence, had information detailing locations of firearms possessed by a relative, and had a guide detailing tips to prevent criminal detection.”

Notably, court documents state that in the days prior to Demarco traveling to Vought’s home, the 26-year-old made numerous posts online attempting to solicit others to carry out the murder of the OMB director. Demacro eventually decided to carry out the assassination himself, the charging documents allege.

After his arrest, Demarco admitted to being in Arlington last August, but claimed he was job hunting and denied carrying a weapon or intending to harm Vought. He did, however, admit he wanted to confront Vought about Project 2025, expressing fears of a “fascist takeover,” and stating that President Donald J. Trump’s 2024 election victory was the “lowest point in his life.”

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