Former Teaching Assistant Accused of Threatening the President

Federal prosecutors in Peoria, Ill., have accused a 27-year-old former Illinois State University graduate teaching assistant of making threats on social media against President Donald J. Trump.

The charge appears to be tied primarily to an Oct. 27 post on X.com, formerly known as Twitter, that read in part, “I’m gonna kill Donald Trump.”

Derek Lopez was charged on Oct. 28 in the US District Court for the Central District of Illinois. Magistrate Judge Ronald L. Hanna entered a temporary order of detention Wednesday following his arrest and initial appearance.

To prove its case, the prosecution will need to ...