A judge in Washington, DC has decided not to indict an Indiana woman who was accused of making threats against President Trump’s life via social media. This comes after a series of similar cases where local judges have been hesitant to move forward with indictments.
Natalie Rose Jones was charged with making threats to harm the president, which included invoking physical harm through communications that crossed state lines. Recently, her defense team filed a motion requesting that she be released on her own recognizance while awaiting a future court date. The judge declined to indict her.
Jones’ legal team argued, “The judge has not recognized any valid reasons to proceed with prosecution. The evidence against her is weak. The government may attempt to secure an indictment again, but as it stands, there doesn’t seem to be one forthcoming. Therefore, Ms. Jones should be released.”
This request came shortly after another federal judge mandated that Jones consult with a psychiatrist in New York City and granted her home detention monitored by GPS.
At 50, Jones struggles with schizophrenia and has intensified her criticisms of Trump, particularly after participating in a protest in Washington. In an alarming Facebook post on August 6, she stated her willingness to harm the president. “This administration needs to go,” she declared in an interview shortly thereafter.
Despite these troubling statements, friends and family emphasize that she’s calm and non-threatening when on her medication. “She has faced mental health challenges, but as far as I know, has never engaged in violence,” her friend Karen Craig expressed in a letter to the judge overseeing the case.
Another supporter mentioned her tendency to engage in verbal combats rather than anything physical. “If released, she will follow court orders. This is really a tough situation for her,” Rod Hughes wrote in support of her.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson remarked that threats against the president should be taken very seriously, especially given that Trump has survived multiple assassination attempts.
It remains unclear whether federal prosecutors will pursue additional charges against Jones. However, strong warnings were issued at the time of her arrest. “Threatening a presidential life is an extremely serious offense, one we typically prosecute swiftly and firmly,” said Prosecutor Jeanine Pirro before the judge’s ruling.
NBC News reported that Grand Juries in DC have declined to indict individuals at least six times recently amid Trump-related legal issues in the capital. In another notable case, a judge questioned a defendant’s presence in the courthouse, which led to a misdemeanor charge against him.
