A Rhode Island man, Carl D.Montague, 37, is currently under indictment by a grand jury for allegedly threatening to assassinate President Donald J. Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
Despite the severity of the charges, Montague remains free on bail, his movements tracked by an ankle monitor.
The Rhode Island U.S. District attorneys office has charged Montague with "threats against the President and interstate communications of threats," as reported by Breitbart. However, two federal judges, both appointed by Democrats, have rejected the Department of Justice's (DOJ) attempts to incarcerate Montague while awaiting trial.
Following his initial arrest last month, Montague vented his anger at reporters outside the courthouse. The FBI's probable cause affidavit alleges that on June 27, Montague posted a profanity-laden threat on Truth Social, a social media platform, vowing to "shoot and kill" the President and two other members of his administration.
Despite Montague's history of four previous assault convictions, both a magistrate judge and a U.S. district judge declined to detain him. Instead, the latter ordered him to wear a GPS monitoring device. The FBI affidavit reveals that Truth Social's parent company, Trump Media and Technology, alerted the U.S. Secret Service to the threat on June 27. The threat, issued by an "unknown subject" using the handle "@tacoustic," was later traced back to Montague.
The FBI tracked down Montague at an associate's apartment on June 30, where they found him hiding in a bathtub. According to the affidavit, "Montague began confessing to making threats before agents were able to introduce themselves or explained why they were there."
He admitted to being under the influence of marijuana when he posted the threat and expressed regret for his actions. Montague also claimed he had no access to weapons and no intention of carrying out the threats.
Despite the DOJ's request for Montague's incarceration, he was initially released on a $10,000 bond by U.S. Magistrate Judge Amy Moses, an appointee of President Barack Obama, according to the Blaze. The DOJ filed another motion less than a week later, detailing Montague's history of assault convictions from 2014 to 2022 and multiple probation violations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dulce Donovan argued that Montague's "recent violent threats are the latest in a long history of violent and threatening behavior." She also noted Montague's inability to control his aggression, as evidenced by his outburst at reporters following his initial court appearance. The DOJ argued that Montague's release posed a risk to the safety of the individuals he threatened and the wider community.
However, on July 25, U.S. District Judge Melissa R. DuBose, appointed by President Biden in January 2025, according to the Blaze, denied the motion to detain Montague. Instead, she ordered him to wear a GPS ankle monitor and adhere to an 8 p.m.-7 a.m. curfew.
The date for Montague's arraignment on the grand jury indictment has yet to be scheduled. This case underscores the ongoing debate about the balance between individual freedom and public safety, a cornerstone of conservative thought.
It also raises questions about the efficacy of our judicial system in dealing with individuals who pose a potential threat to public figures and the wider community.
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