A Pennsylvania man, Raymond Chandler III, has been charged with making violent threats against a U.S. representative and President Donald Trump in separate incidents. Chandler, 42, faces federal charges for influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official by threatening a family member and by threat.
Threats Against U.S. Representative
On April 18, 2025, Chandler allegedly left a voicemail for an unidentified U.S. representative, where he made disturbing and graphic threats. According to the criminal complaint filed by the FBI, Chandler detailed a violent fantasy where billionaires and their families would be surrounded by angry crowds, resulting in the brutal killings of the wealthy individuals and their loved ones. He allegedly stated:
“Imagine every single one of those homes being surrounded by a thousand people… and then they pull you out of your house and slit your throat and slit your daughter’s throat and slit everyone’s throat.”
Chandler reportedly ended the message by warning that the wealth disparity in the country had grown so severe that such violence was a likely future outcome.
Threats Against President Trump
On April 29, 2025, Chandler allegedly called the same U.S. representative again and made threats against President Donald Trump. The voicemail, which was also detailed in the FBI affidavit, allegedly instructed the congressperson to assassinate President Trump:
“I want you to take a firearm… I want you to walk into the Oval Office… I want you to put that firearm to the President’s head… and I want you to pull the trigger and I want you to kill him.”
Chandler went on to describe his deep disdain for the President, calling him a liar, the antichrist, and a great deceiver, urging the representative to act as his “agent” in killing Trump. Chandler also explicitly called for the assassination of the President.
Additional Threats and Investigation
Following these threats, the FBI began its investigation into Chandler. On April 28, the representative’s office provided the FBI with voicemails left by Chandler, which included his name and address, assisting authorities in identifying him.
The investigation also revealed that Chandler had made similar threats targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and had expressed fear of being sent to death camps. He allegedly said he had purchased weapons, including a combat knife and a dagger, and voiced his intentions to kill certain people, including President Trump.
Chandler is facing charges including threatening to kill a federal official and inciting violence. He remains in custody, with a magistrate judge in the U.S. Western District of Pennsylvania assigned to the case. At this time, the exact court appearance date for Chandler is not clear.
