The 26-year-old suspect is expected to be prosecuted in Florida and could face a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison if convicted.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus man has been accused in federal court of making violent threats against President Donald Trump and U.S. Rep. Randy Fine, including an alleged threat to behead the Florida congressman.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, Alex Miller, 26, of Columbus, Ohio, was arrested on a charge of interstate transmission of a threat to injure.
Federal court filings say Miller allegedly emailed Fine, a Republican from Florida, on Aug. 18 with a subject line that threatened to shoot him in the head.
Prosecutors allege the message included threats to set the congressman’s home on fire and kill Fine and his family while they were asleep. The email also reportedly labeled Fine a Nazi and included threats to behead him and kill Trump.
Court records say the email included language stating that Fine “deserve[d]” to be beheaded and have his body displayed in the streets.
Fine serves Florida’s 6th Congressional District, a region that includes Daytona Beach and portions of northeast Florida along the Atlantic coast.
Authorities said the threatening email was referred to the FBI, and investigators used search warrants to link Miller to both the email account and the address from which the message was sent.
An exhibit submitted by federal prosecutors, reportedly showing Miller’s Facebook account, reveals he also left reviews on the pages of several government officials.
Under former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, court documents said Miller called her a “garbage human being all around” and “mentally unfit” for her job. He also allegedly left a review using derogatory language and referencing beheading about White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Miller was arrested in Columbus on Aug. 19 and is currently being held at the Franklin County jail, according to the jail’s inmate roster.
If convicted, Miller could spend up to five years in federal prison, the attorney’s office said.
