FILE – President Donald Trump addresses the press on Friday, June 27, 2025, in the White House briefing room in Washington (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File).
In Texas, a man faces accusations of threatening a member of President Donald Trump’s team through a barrage of alarming voicemails. He allegedly warned, “I’m going to cut your f—ing head off, b—” and also threatened, “then I’m going to kill your f—ing family,” as detailed by federal prosecutors.
Thomas Crouse, hailing from Austin, has been charged with sending a threatening interstate communication with the intent to harm another individual. This follows claims that he repeatedly messaged the presidential staffer’s phone on August 25 and August 26, as per the Justice Department’s report.
His arrest was publicized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas in a press release on Thursday. The accompanying federal complaint includes excerpts from a minimum of five voicemails detailing what Crouse is alleged to have told the staffer.
The victim, who has not been publicly named, is identified as “VI.”
In a voicemail, Crouse purportedly stated, “Hey, if this is f—ing [stated VI’s name] whatever man, the piece of f—ing shit that’s [references VI’s role on the President of the United States’ staff]. If this is you, I’m going to find you, and I’m going to cut your f—ing head off, b—.”
Crouse continued his threats with, “I’m going to kill you, and then I’m going to kill your f—ing family, b—. F— you,” reportedly using the *67 feature to hide his number, according to prosecutors.
The Austinite allegedly left the voicemail on Aug. 25 and was then contacted about it by FBI personnel in the Washington, D.C., field office — where the staffer is based — on Aug. 26. He claimed to be working in the “tech and vaping industry” and that he “had no intent on carrying out the violence,” according to the complaint.
“Crouse showed FBI agents his phone log, allowed them to take a photo, and added that it is uncertain what he does late at night while smoking weed,” the complaint says. “FBI agents urged Crouse to cease making direct threats to which Crouse agreed.”
Later that day, however, Crouse allegedly changed his mind.
“Around 3:00pm Eastern time, VI received a series of five voicemails believed to be from Crouse as it resembled his voice and mentioned recent events,” the complaint alleges, listing out what Crouse is accused of saying.
“Dude, telling the f—ing FBI, you’s a b—,” Crouse allegedly told the man in the first of five different messages, according to prosecutors. “Let me catch you in public; I’ll knock you the f— out, b—,” he allegedly said. “What’s it like being such a little f—ing p—y b—? If I saw your ass in public, I’d knock you the f— out, bro.”
FBI agents playing a voicemail containing threats that were allegedly made by Thomas Crouse against a Trump staffer (U.S. Attorney’s Office).
By the third voicemail, Crouse allegedly went from threatening the man to urging him to “kill” himself as a service to the American people, per prosecutors.
“You want to do something good for this world? Kill yourself, man. You want to… hide behind people like the FBI? Put a gun in your mouth,” Crouse allegedly said. “I promise you, nobody loves you. Nobody gives a shit about you. Improve the lives of every American by f—ng killing yourself.”
Crouse allegedly concluded his tirade by letting the man know he wasn’t going to stop.
“Yeah, I’ll call you every f—ing day, multiple times a day, tell you to kill yourself,” Crouse said, according to the complaint. “That f—ing FBI shit, nothing’s going to happen. Kill yourself. There’s nothing they can do… Okay, I can’t make direct threats against you. Kill yourself.”
In his fifth and last voicemail, Crouse allegedly said, “I’ll leave a million messages. I don’t give a f—. I won’t make no threats; I’ll just tell you you’re a worthless piece of s— and you should put a f—ing gun in your mouth… Kill yourself. It’ll be the only good you’ve ever done for the world.”
Crouse was arrested Wednesday, Aug. 27, after the staffer notified the FBI again about the new messages, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says.
Crouse faces up to five years in prison if convicted. He’s scheduled to appear for a preliminary and detention hearing on Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower.
