By Lindsay Whitehurst and Sam Metz | Related Press
SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah man accused of constructing threats in opposition to President Joe Biden was shot and killed by FBI brokers hours earlier than the president was anticipated to land within the state Wednesday, authorities mentioned.
Particular brokers have been making an attempt to serve a warrant on the house of Craig Deleeuw Robertson in Provo, south of Salt Lake Metropolis, when the taking pictures occurred at 6:15 a.m., the FBI mentioned in a press release.
Robertson posted on-line Monday that he had heard Biden was coming to Utah and he was planning to dig out a camouflage swimsuit and “clear the mud off the m24 sniper rifle,” in keeping with courtroom paperwork.
In one other put up, Robertson refers to himself as a “MAGA Trumper,” a reference to former President Donald Trump’s “Make America Nice Once more” slogan.
The posts indicated he did seem to personal a long-range sniper rifle and quite a few different weapons, in addition to camouflage gear often called a “ghillie swimsuit,” investigators mentioned in courtroom information. Robertson was charged below seal Tuesday with three felony counts, together with making threats in opposition to the president, courtroom paperwork present.
Robertson additionally referenced a “presidential assassination” and made different threats in opposition to Manhattan District Legal professional Alvin Bragg, U.S. Legal professional Normal Merrick Garland and New York Legal professional Normal Letitia James, courtroom paperwork state.
“The time is true for a presidential assassination or two. First Joe then Kamala!!!” authorities say Robertson wrote in a September 2022 Fb put up included within the filings. No legal professional was instantly listed for Robertson in courtroom paperwork.
No additional particulars have been instantly launched in regards to the taking pictures, which is below evaluation by the FBI.
Biden is in the midst of a visit to the Western United States. He spent Wednesday in New Mexico, the place he spoke at a manufacturing unit that may produce wind towers, and is scheduled to fly to Utah later within the day.
On Thursday, he’s anticipated to go to a Veterans Affairs hospital to speak in regards to the PACT Act, which expanded veterans advantages, and maintain a reelection fundraiser.
Whitehurst reported from Washington. Related Press author Chris Megerian contributed to this report.
