A man from Pennsylvania has been indicted on federal charges after allegedly making severe death threats against a member of Congress, their daughter, and former President Donald Trump. These threats reportedly occurred between April 2025 and January 2026, as stated by the FBI.
Raymond Chandler III, who recently declared his intention to run for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat in 2028, faces accusations of influencing or retaliating against a federal employee by means of threats directed at his family. This information comes from a criminal complaint filed in Pennsylvania’s Western District.
According to an arrest affidavit, Chandler allegedly left a threatening voicemail for an anonymous congressional member on April 18, 2025.
The recorded message purportedly began with a hypothetical scenario involving billionaires and their wealth, followed by gruesome details about dragging families out of their homes. Chandler expressed a belief that wealth redistribution was essential due to the increasing concentration of wealth in the nation, which he claimed was causing suffering.
His campaign website highlights several priorities, including advocating for “taxes for billionaires,” abolishing ICE, and establishing a universal basic income. He aims to challenge Democratic Senator John Fetterman for his seat in the upcoming election.
On April 29, 2025, Chandler made another call to the same congressman, telling him to kill Trump. In this voicemail, Chandler even explicitly suggested the congressman’s use of a gun against the former president.
He described Trump as a terrible leader, labeling him as “a liar’s liar” and “the Antichrist.” In an aggressive tone, he urged the congressman to take violent action against the president. Chandler’s rhetoric continued to escalate, where he demanded armed resistance against immigration enforcement and stated that “violence has become necessary.”
His arrest on May 1 came shortly after another individual, Cole Allen, attempted to storm the ballroom of the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, supposedly with the intent to harm Trump and administration members.
Allen is now the third individual to face charges related to threats against Trump. In the past, there have also been other notable incidents of attempted assassinations involving Trump, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding his safety.
The U.S. Secret Service, working with the FBI, firmly stated that threats against their protected individuals, including Trump, will be dealt with seriously. It’s still unclear if Chandler has legal representation, and inquiries have been made to the FBI and the White House for further comments.
