THE CENTER SQUARE – Daniel Swain, a South Carolinian accused of threatening President Donald Trump, will not face justice in North Carolina, where charges against him have been dismissed. The charges included resisting a public officer, possession of methamphetamine, and having a fictitious license plate. However, Swain will face a federal detention hearing on Friday.
Arrest and Allegations
Swain, from Summerville, S.C., was arrested in Apex, North Carolina, on April 28 after authorities discovered threatening messages scrawled on his vehicle. Swain was allegedly traveling to Washington, D.C., with the intention of confronting President Trump. His arrest at a car wash prompted a response from multiple agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, its bomb squad, and the FBI.
Federal Charges
According to a federal complaint, Swain faces charges for making threats to harm or kill the President of the United States. The complaint states that Swain “knowingly and willfully made a threat to take the life of, to kidnap, or to inflict bodily harm upon the President.” If convicted, Swain could face up to five years in prison.
Threatening Messages
Apex police discovered several alarming messages written on Swain’s vehicle. One read, “headed to WSH to kill the Pres.” Others included “Tell Donald he is fired,” “5 dead 5 years,” and “3 Navy, Teacher & Trucker.” A message on the passenger side window also instructed the reader to commit suicide. Surveillance footage from the car wash confirmed that these messages were written shortly after Swain had the car cleaned.
Motivation for the Threats
The federal complaint indicates that Swain’s threats were allegedly motivated by his belief that the deaths of his father, uncle, and grandfather were suspicious. According to Swain, these family members had served in the military and passed away under questionable health circumstances, which he cited as the reason behind his actions.
Swain’s upcoming federal hearing will determine the next steps in his legal proceedings.
