Dover man could face 15 years for alleged threats to three 2024 presidential candidates
DOVER — A Dover man is facing federal charges alleging he threatened to kill three 2024 presidential candidates and could face a maximum of 15 years in jail if convicted.
Tyler Anderson, 30, has been indicted on three federal counts in connection to threatening text messages he allegedly sent to three presidential campaigns dating back to November. Originally arrested Dec. 9 and subsequently released by U.S. marshals, Anderson is now facing three counts of transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure the person of another.
Anderson is accused of allegedly threatening to “impale” and “disembowel” one presidential candidate in text messages sent on Nov. 22, according to U.S. Attorney Jane Young’s office. He then allegedly threatened to “blow” off the head of another on Dec. 6 and carry out a mass shooting event. In addition, he allegedly texted a third candidate’s campaign on Dec. 8 that he would “blow” the “brains out” of the candidate and “kill everyone” who would attend their campaign event, then “f*** their corpses,” per an affidavit filed in Anderson’s case.
Young’s office has not released the names of the victims associated with Anderson’s alleged text messages. Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign confirmed earlier this month that he was threatened before attending a breakfast event at the Roundabout Diner in Portsmouth.
Anderson, who has no prior criminal record, made his initial appearance at a Concord federal court on Dec. 11. Three days later, he was released from custody on multiple conditions, including that he avoid contact with any presidential candidate and their political campaigns.
The federal judge further ordered that the firearms in his Dover residence that belong to his roommate must be removed, as well as that Anderson continue taking his prescribed medications for his mental health treatment.
Each charge against Anderson carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Anderson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Federal public defender Dorothy Graham represented Anderson in his initial proceedings. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.
A show cause hearing in his case has been scheduled for Jan. 9, 2024 at 9 a.m. in Concord before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrea K Johnstone. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Rombeau.
The FBI led the investigation into Anderson with help from police in Dover and Portsmouth.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Dover NH man indicted for alleged threats to presidential candidates
