A twenty-two-year-old California man faces federal charges after allegedly posting death threats against Vice President JD Vance on social media during the Vice President’s family visit to Disneyland Resort in July.
Marco Antonio Aguayo of Anaheim was taken into custody Friday following a federal criminal complaint charging him with threatening the president and successors to the presidency. The arrest stems from multiple threatening comments allegedly posted to Disney’s official Instagram account on July 12, the same day Vice President Vance and his family were visiting and staying at the resort.
According to an affidavit filed by a U.S. Secret Service Special Agent, an Instagram account posted a public comment on Disney’s page at approximately 6:15 p.m. that day stating, “Pipe bombs have been placed in preparation for J.D. Vance’s arrival.” The affidavit details subsequent comments from the same account declaring, “It’s time for us to rise up and you will be a witness to it,” followed by a third message warning, “Good luck finding all of them on time there will be bloodshed tonight and we will bathe in the blood of corrupt politicians.”
The criminal complaint was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Aguayo is scheduled to make his initial court appearance Tuesday in Santa Ana.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi addressed the arrest in a Department of Justice news release, emphasizing the gravity of threats against public officials. “This case is a horrific reminder of the dangers public officials face from deranged criminals who would do them harm,” Bondi stated. “I am grateful that my friend Vice President Vance and his family are safe, applaud the police work that led to the arrest and will ensure my prosecutors deliver swift justice.”
The incident underscores growing concerns about the security challenges facing elected officials and their families, particularly during public appearances at popular venues. The Secret Service and federal law enforcement agencies have increasingly focused resources on monitoring and responding to threats made through social media platforms, where anonymous accounts can quickly disseminate threatening messages to wide audiences.
The charge of threatening the president and successors to the presidency carries significant federal penalties. The statute protects not only the sitting president but also the vice president and others in the line of succession, reflecting the critical importance of safeguarding constitutional continuity of government.
Vice President Vance and his family were unharmed during their visit to the Anaheim resort. The swift identification and apprehension of the suspect demonstrates the coordination between social media platforms, local law enforcement, and federal agencies in addressing credible threats against high-ranking government officials.
As this case proceeds through the federal court system, it will serve as another test of how effectively authorities can prosecute online threats while the nation grapples with protecting both public safety and constitutional freedoms in the digital age.
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