Federal Judge Orders Monitoring in Threat Case Against Former Coast Guard Officer
A federal judge has mandated GPS monitoring for a former Coast Guard officer during a hearing linked to accusations of multiple threats made against President Donald Trump over several years on social media platforms.
The 63-year-old resident of Virginia served in the Coast Guard from 1988 to 2021, where he achieved the title of Sharpshooter and worked as a FEMA instructor. During Wednesday’s proceedings, Judge Ivan Davis expressed doubt regarding the potential threat posed by the defendant, asserting that home detention, under specified conditions, wouldn’t endanger the community.
Peter Stinson, clad in a green prison jumpsuit, appeared in court and was noted conversing with his attorney throughout the hearing.
The U.S. Department of Justice has accused Stinson of threatening Trump across various social media platforms, including X, Reddit, and Bluesky. A public defender for Stinson argued that his comments were more about exaggeration and didn’t constitute a direct threat, suggesting they fell under the protection of free speech.
However, prosecutors highlighted Stinson’s background, mentioning that he was awarded the expert Marksman ribbon during his service, implying a certain level of skill that contradicted his defense’s claims of inexperience.
Stinson’s defenders maintained that the legal framework concerning threatening language needed to be more clearly adhered to, while prosecutors emphasized their responsibility to prove probable cause. Judge Davis indicated that he might lean towards the defense’s perspective, allowing prosecutors time until the following Wednesday to present additional documentation regarding the case.
An affidavit from the FBI detailed various online threats allegedly made by Stinson. Among these was a post where he suggested that Trump should be harmed, tying it to a related case involving a murder accusation against Luigi Mangione.
In addition, Stinson reportedly made graphic threats, discussing weapons and violence across multiple online channels. While he seemingly downplayed his own capability for carrying out such actions, he unnervingly hinted it might not be entirely accurate.
The affidavit further claims that Stinson identified himself as part of the Antifa group, sharing comments about violence being a necessary part of conflict.
His recent communications have raised alarms, particularly a post on Bluesky where he ominously stated that the “party will become huge when he dies.”
