An Illinois man, aged 40, has been sentenced to 14 months in a federal correctional facility for issuing violent threats against President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and several congressional Democrats. Adam R. Mouser received his sentence from U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless after pleading guilty to one count of making threats against the President of the United States. The maximum sentence for such a crime is five years.
Upon completion of his prison term, Mouser will be subject to two years of supervised release. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois reported that during the sentencing hearing, Judge Lawless admonished Mouser, emphasizing the gravity of his words. She underscored that the threats were not only repeated but also escalated, even after Secret Service agents visited Mouser’s residence.
The Secret Service became aware of Mouser’s threats on August 10, 2023, when they discovered posts on an online platform where Mouser threatened to kill Biden. In one of his posts, Mouser wrote about murdering Biden and his wife, Jill Biden. He also taunted federal authorities, stating that they wouldn’t dare to shoot him as he would retaliate and harm their families.
In response to a post asking if readers would prefer to dine with Obama or Clinton, Mouser responded that he would shoot both. He also referenced a “Utah man” who was allegedly killed by U.S. officials for threatening Biden, likely referring to 75-year-old Craig Robertson, who was shot in his home after brandishing a handgun at FBI agents attempting to arrest him.
Authorities located Mouser at his home in Jacksonville, Illinois, approximately 225 miles southwest of Chicago. When confronted by a Secret Service agent and a local police detective on August 23, 2023, Mouser confirmed that he was responsible for the online threats. He insisted that he meant every word and that his First Amendment rights were being violated. However, Mouser was incorrect in his understanding of the First Amendment, which does not protect violent threats.
After the investigators left, Mouser continued to post online, disparaging the authorities and vowing not to go down without a fight. He also claimed that the authorities would return to kill his family while they slept. The U.S. Secret Service, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and Jacksonville Police Department, investigated the case against Mouser.