Ohio man charged over threat to kill JD Vance

A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a man with threatening to kill US Vice ‍President JD Vance during his visit to the Ohio region in January.

Shannon Mathre, 33, of Toledo, Ohio, is accused of making a threat to ⁠take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon, Vance, the Justice Department said in a statement on Friday.

Mathre allegedly stated, "I am going to find out where he (the vice president) is going to be and use my M14 automatic gun and ‌kill him," according ​to the indictment cited by the Justice Department.

Mathre was arrested by ‍US Secret Service agents on Friday. A representative of Mathre could not immediately be reached.

Experts have raised alarm about political violence and threats of violence in a polarised US in recent years. Earlier this week, a January 6, 2021, rioter, who was ​pardoned by President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty to ‌a harassment charge after being accused of threatening to kill US House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem ​Jeffries.

While investigating the alleged threats, federal agents also discovered multiple files of child ‍sexual abuse materials in Mathre's possession, the Justice Department said.

Mathre made his initial appearance before a US Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of ​Ohio ​on Friday and remains in custody ​pending a detention hearing scheduled for February ​11, the Justice Department said.

If found guilty as charged, Mathre faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.