Garry Lee Williams, 44, of Knoxville, was arrested on July 16 in Knoxville by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on a complaint involving the interstate transmission of threats to kill public officials.
An initial appearance was held on July 17 in United States District Court in Knoxville before Judge Debra C. Poplin. The next scheduled hearing is a preliminary hearing set for August 25 at 1:30 p.m., also before Judge Poplin. A trial will be scheduled at a later date.
The details of the complaint, which include numerous threats to kill public officials in violation of federal law, are outlined in the arrest warrant and supporting affidavit filed as public records in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. According to the affidavit, Williams made repeated posts and videos on social media platforms including TikTok, threatening to kill President Donald J. Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel, Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler, and Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the Nashville Field Office of the FBI announced these charges.
Assistant United States Attorney David P. Lewen Jr. will represent the United States in this case.
Members of the public are reminded that these are only charges, and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.