Overview
- Trent Schneider, 57, of Winthrop Harbor, was charged with making a threat in interstate commerce and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey T. Gilbert on Monday.
- The criminal complaint says an Oct. 16 Instagram video showed Schneider saying he would get guns and declaring that President Trump "should be executed."
- Prosecutors allege the same video was reposted about 18 times and a graphic calling for execution appeared roughly 20 times, with several posts tagged to Trump Tower in Chicago.
- A concerned citizen in Florida reported the content, the Secret Service led the probe, and Lake County sheriff’s SWAT assisted in executing search and arrest warrants without incident.
- Court filings cite prior encounters with law enforcement, a 2023 finding of unfitness to stand trial on earlier charges, investigators’ use of subscriber records and facial comparison, and references to a foreclosure auction in his posts; the charge carries up to five years in prison if convicted.