A contractor working with the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been arrested for allegedly threatening to kill US President Donald Trump and using his government work computer to research details connected to the alleged plot.
Authorities identified the suspect as Dean DelleChiaie, a 35-year-old mechanical engineer and FAA contractor based in New Hampshire.
According to prosecutors, investigators discovered online searches allegedly carried out by DelleChiaie that included phrases such as “how to bring a firearm into a federal facility” and “I am going to kill Donald John Trump.”
Prosecutors also alleged that he searched for information related to the families of Vice President JD Vance and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Court documents said the FAA contacted law enforcement after DelleChiaie allegedly asked the agency’s IT department to delete his search history from his work computer.
A United States Secret Service agent later interviewed him at his home on February 3, where investigators said he admitted carrying out the searches.
According to an affidavit, DelleChiaie allegedly told investigators he was angry with the current administration over issues including the election, presidential pardons and the so-called “Epstein files”.
Authorities also said he admitted owning three firearms.
Prosecutors further alleged that on April 21, DelleChiaie used a personal computer to send an email to the White House with the subject line “Contact the President.”
In the message, investigators said he wrote that he intended to “neutralize/kill” Trump over policies he described as terrorism.
DelleChiaie is expected to appear in court on Tuesday. His lawyer was not immediately available for comment.
If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case is one of several recent prosecutions involving alleged threats against Trump.
Last week, former Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey reportedly surrendered to authorities after being charged over an Instagram post prosecutors said contained a threat against the president.
Separately, prosecutors said a man from South Carolina was arrested after allegedly writing on his vehicle that he was travelling to Washington “to kill the pres”.
In another case, a man in Florida pleaded guilty last week to threatening Trump and other public officials.
US Attorney John Heekin said threats against public officials were becoming increasingly common and warned authorities would seek maximum punishment in such cases.
The arrests come less than two weeks after authorities said a gunman entered the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in what investigators described as an attempt targeting Trump and other senior US officials.
