A Chicago man has been charged with making threats against the United States Secret Service, according to an announcement on April 9 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois.
The case concerns public safety and underscores law enforcement’s commitment to addressing threats against federal officials and agencies.
According to a criminal complaint unsealed in federal court, Michael Kovco, 29, allegedly sent an electronic message through the official White House website on March 19 stating his intent to "hunt" a Secret Service agent's family and "shoot up" their workplace if given identifying information. The message came about two hours after agents visited Kovco's residence in Chicago regarding a prior threat he reportedly made on March 17 against President Donald J. Trump and one of his sons. The earlier message was also transmitted via the White House website and signed electronically as being from “Mr. I’m going to [expletive] kill your child Kovco,” according to the complaint.
Kovco was arrested on April 3 and is charged with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. A detention hearing is scheduled for April 10 in federal court in Chicago, where prosecutors will seek continued detention pending trial.
United States Attorney Andrew S. Boutros said, “As I have stated repeatedly during my first year as United States Attorney, it is never acceptable to threaten a law enforcement officer, political figure, or a member of their family. Under my watch, political violence will be dealt with as the serious federal crime that it is. Working closely with our federal and state law enforcement partners, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will find, arrest, and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those responsible for criminally threatening the safety of our public officials and law enforcement officers.”
Dai Tran, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Chicago Field Office added: “The U.S. Secret Service’s top priority is safeguarding the President of the United States and all those we protect. We take any threats seriously and aggressively pursue them to ensure our protectees’ safety. I commend our agents’ work in bringing this defendant to justice. I want to thank our partners at the Chicago Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Illinois for their help in pursuing this case.”
Authorities remind that a complaint is not evidence of guilt; Kovco remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt at trial.
