Left: Raymond Chandler III (Raymond Chandler III/YouTube). Right: President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo/Alex Brandon).
A Pennsylvania man finds himself in serious legal trouble following accusations of making violent threats against a member of Congress and urging the representative to assassinate former President Donald Trump. The individual at the center of these charges is Raymond Chandler III, who now faces federal charges for allegedly attempting to influence or retaliate against a federal official by threatening their family, as well as for making direct threats against the official, according to an affidavit examined by Law&Crime.
The criminal complaint, filed by an FBI agent, outlines the case against Chandler. Interestingly, Chandler is not entirely unknown in political circles, as he maintains a website promoting his bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania, aiming to replace Senator John Fetterman. Chandler’s campaign platform highlights issues such as taxing billionaires, combating corruption, and supporting working families, reflecting his outspoken political stance.
The controversy surrounding Chandler stems from a voicemail he reportedly left on April 18 for an undisclosed U.S. representative. In the message, he paints a dramatic scenario: “Sir, I am calling this morning because I want you to imagine a scenario. I want you to imagine a scenario where all the 1,200 billionaires in this country, all their properties are surrounded simultaneously by a thousand people.”
Chandler’s message escalates in intensity as he continues, “Imagine your house, your daughter’s house, everyone you know and love who is also rich. Imagine every single one of those homes being surrounded by a thousand people. Then imagine them all getting a text and then, then suddenly taking out their pocket knives, walking slowly towards your house… and then they come and they pull you out of your house and they slit your throat and they slit your daughter’s throat and they slit everyone’s throat.”
He allegedly concludes by warning, “[T]hat is the future. It’s not a future I want, it’s not a future I’m advocating for, but wealth concentration has gotten so bad in this country. The greed has gotten so bad. People are suffering so much, sir, that that is what is in our future. You will not escape their wrath. We must redistribute the wealth away from people like you.” Chandler’s words portray a grim vision of societal upheaval, driven by extreme economic disparities.
“[T]hat is the future,” he allegedly adds. “It’s not a future I want, it’s not a future I’m advocating for, but wealth concentration has gotten so bad in this country. The greed has gotten so bad. People are suffering so much, sir, that that is what is in our future. You will not escape their wrath. We must redistribute the wealth away from people like you.”
According to federal authorities, 11 days later, Chandler turned his attention to Trump.
“You’ve probably getting quite used to my voice,” Chandler allegedly said on a voicemail to the same member of Congress. “Sir, I’m calling this evening because what I want you to do is I want you to take a firearm. I want you to put it in your hand. I want you to walk into the Oval Office. I want you to put that firearm to the President’s head, and I want you to pull the trigger and I want you to kill him.”
“I am petitioning you, Senator for redress of grievances. My redress of grievances is that this president is awful,” he added, according to the FBI agent. “He’s a liar among all liars. He’s a great deceiver. He’s the antichrist. I want you to walk into the Oval Office with a gun in your hand. I want you to put it to his temple, and I want you to pull the trigger.”
“That is what I want you to do as my agent,” the affidavit continues, citing the alleged voicemail. “That’s what I want you to do as my elected official. That’s what I am petitioning you to do with my free speech. I want you to kill the President. I want you to assassinate the President. That’s what I want you to do. Now, Senator, are you gonna come after me? Are you going to try me because of my voice and what I said?”
The affidavit said that on this day — April 28 — the member of Congress’ representatives “provided the FBI” with information about the suspect. The FBI noted that it reviewed voicemails from Chandler tracing back a year, where he allegedly listed his name and address.
The defendant also reportedly targeted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in threats in April 2025, expressing his concern that “some people would be sent to death camps and that he recently bought a seven-inch combat knife and a dagger because he is terrified that his government would kill him.”
Chandler allegedly stated that he would “personally kill,” stated his “intent to build gallows to hang” the member of Congress, and “communicated his realization that violence” and death to certain people including Trump “has become necessary.”
A magistrate judge in the U.S. Western District of Pennsylvania has been assigned to the case.
It is not yet clear when Chandler will appear in court.
