Michigan man arrested for threatening to attack conservatives if Trump wins election

A 25-year-old man was arrested in Michigan after the FBI identified him as the person responsible for an explicit threat of violence against conservatives should former President Donald Trump win the election.

According to the Department of Justice, Isaac Sissel, an Ann Arbor resident, faces federal charges for sending an anonymous online threat that included a disturbing message about a possible attack.

The threat was received on November 2, 2024, by the FBI's National Threat Operations Center, located in West Virginia. According to the message, Sissel reportedly stated, "I shall carry out an attack against conservative christan, (sic) filth in the event Trump wins the election."

Furthermore, in his threatening statement, Sissel indicated that he possessed a stolen semi-automatic AR-15 rifle and already had a specific target, although he declined to provide further details to avoid authorities thwarting his plans. "Without a specific victim or ability to find the place I hid the gun, there’s not a thing the FBI can do until I complete the attack," he added in his threat.

The arrest was made by FBI agents early Tuesday morning, and Sissel is expected to appear in federal court this afternoon to face charges. The FBI's Detroit field office is leading the investigation into the case.

Part of a federal effort against political threats

As the release notes, this case adds to the efforts of the Department of Justice's Election Threats Task Force, an initiative launched in 2021 to address and respond to threats of violence in the electoral context. The group, led by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, works in collaboration with local and state authorities to investigate threats and protect election workers and political figures from potential intimidation or attacks.