Florida man charged with death threats against Donald Trump and JD Vance

Jupiter police arrested Michael M. Wiseman on Friday after authorities said he also threatened to harm the Trump and Vance families.

July 20, 2024, 4:42 p.m. EDT | Updated July 20, 2024, 4:52 p.m. EDT

JUPITER, FL — A Florida man is facing charges after authorities say he threatened to kill former President Donald Trump, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance and their families.

Michael M. Wiseman was arrested by Jupiter police on Friday and charged with sending written death threats after he posted threats against Trump and Vance on social media, authorities said. Wiseman also threatened bodily harm against members of the Trump and Vance families, police said.

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Jupiter police were alerted to the threat through numerous tips and reports, authorities said.

Wiseman’s arrest came a week after a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler County, Pennsylvania, killing one person in the crowd and wounding the former president and two bystanders. The gunman – identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks – was killed by snipers guarding the rally.

Jupiter police worked with the U.S. Secret Service and the Palm Beach County District Attorney’s Office to take Wiseman into custody, police said.

Related: Shooter identified at Trump rally | Report: Plan to mass shoot gunman at Trump rally under investigation

Authorities are searching for a motive for the July 13 assassination attempt on Trump and investigating whether the gunman, Crooks, may have planned a mass shooting.

Meanwhile, mourning continued for the former fire chief who was killed in the attack. A private funeral was held Friday morning for Corey Comperatore, 50. The firefighter from Buffalo Township died while trying to protect his family from gunfire at a Trump rally in Butler. Hundreds of people attended his wake in Freeport on Thursday and Trump paid his last respects at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.