Man Faces Federal Charges Over Online Posts
A former U.S. Coast Guard lieutenant, Peter Stinson, has been arrested and faces federal charges for allegedly making a series of assassination threats against President Donald Trump. The charges stem from a lengthy pattern of threatening social media posts, according to newly unsealed court documents.
Stinson, a Virginia resident, served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1988 to 2021, holding the rank of Lieutenant. He was also a FEMA instructor and reportedly received recognition for his marksmanship skills during his service.
His military record, once commendable, now casts a troubling shadow as prosecutors allege that he used those skills as context in repeated online threats targeting Trump.
Court documents reveal that Stinson identified as an ANTIFA supporter and utilized accounts on social media platforms X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky to make his threats public, beginning in 2020 and continuing into 2025.
Federal prosecutors outlined numerous disturbing posts, including one from April 2020, in which Stinson responded to an anti-Trump post by suggesting violent action: “It involves a rifle and a scope, but I can’t talk about it here.” In another message, he offered to contribute financially to a “contract” to eliminate the president, writing: “We could solve the solvable part of this problem in a crack.”
The court complaint highlights a particularly concerning reference made on May 9, in which Stinson wrote that Trump should be “Luigied,” a likely allusion to Luigi Mangione — the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024.
In addition to violent imagery involving firearms, Stinson’s posts allegedly included references to poisoning and knife attacks. Prosecutors also cited messages posted after the 2024 assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, in which Stinson commented: “Very few people are [capable]. Somebody needs to learn this lesson… Execution is critical.”
Investigators noted that Stinson frequently referenced the number “8647,” which the FBI links to a controversial 2020 post made by former FBI Director James Comey. That post was widely interpreted as a veiled threat against Trump and spurred a DHS investigation at the time.
Stinson allegedly made at least 13 posts including “8647” and shared similar cryptic language, culminating in a June 11 post that read, “When he dies, the party is going to be yuge.”