A federal jury convicted Trent Schneider, a 58-year-old resident of Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, on Mar. 26 of making a true threat in interstate commerce to injure multiple public officials, including former President Donald J. Trump. The verdict followed a three-day trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago and carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
The case centers on an incident from Oct. 21, 2025, when Schneider posted a video on Instagram expressing violent intentions toward judges, doctors, lawyers, police officers and specifically naming Trump as someone who "should be executed." The video included statements about acquiring firearms and taking action himself against those he accused of wrongdoing. In addition to the online threats, Schneider appeared at the Lake County courthouse the same day and told the presiding judge that he would burn down the courthouse.
The conviction was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Dai Tran, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Chicago Field Office. Assistance came from both local law enforcement agencies—the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Winthrop Harbor Police Department—with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hanna Helwig and Paige Nutini representing the government.
"Let this conviction send a clear message that it is never acceptable to threaten a political figure or a member of the judiciary," said U.S. Attorney Boutros. "Political violence is not only intolerable, but it is a serious crime. Working closely with our 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 elected officials and judges."
Special Agent in Charge Tran said: "Threats of political violence are not a joke," adding: "They are a Federal crime. The U.S. Secret Service vigorously pursues all threats to harm the President of the United States... I am proud of our agents’ work in this case and thank our partners at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Winthrop Harbor Police Department for their assistance in bringing this defendant to justice... I also want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office... for prosecuting this case to its conclusion."
