Nick Allen
Wed, August 9, 2023 at 5:27 PM EDT
7.8k
Nick Allen
Wed, August 9, 2023 at 5:27 PM EDT
Craig Deleeuw Robertson, who posted violent threats against president Joe Biden and other officials online, was shot dead during an FBI raid on Wednesday - FBI UTAH/UNPIXS
A man who threatened to assassinate Joe Biden in Utah was shot dead by the FBI hours before the president arrived in the state.
Craig Deleeuw Robertson, who was in his early 70s, died when special agents raided his home to arrest him in Provo, south of Salt Lake City.
Mr Biden was immediately briefed on the raid while he was still in New Mexico, before he headed to Utah.
Photographs posted by Robertson on social media showed he had an arsenal including a laser-sighted sniper rifle, various semi-automatic weapons, and camouflage gear known as a “ghillie suit”.
Authorities had been investigating him since April, and the FBI was first alerted in June.
An official told ABC News the threats were “credible”.
Before the raid, prosecutors had filed a complaint with a judge charging Robertson with making threats against the president, interstate threats, and threatening law enforcement officers.
Social media posts by Robertson showed him in camouflage used by snipers
Robertson, who was in his 70s, also made threats against Kamala Harris
Robertson died when special agents raided his home to arrest him in Provo, south of Salt Lake City
Mr Biden is currently visiting the western United States and was scheduled to fly late on Wednesday from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Salt Lake City.
In a social media post on Monday, Robertson wrote: “I hear Biden is coming to Utah. Cleaning the dust off the M24 sniper rifle. Welcom (sic), buffoon-in-chief!”
He had also made threats against Vice President Kamala Harris.
In one social media post last September he wrote: “The time is right for a presidential assassination or two. First Joe then Kamala!!!”
He also made threats against US Attorney General Merrick Garland and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
According to the complaint Robertson described himself as a “MAGA Trumper”.
The complaint included pictures Robertson had posted of his guns, including one semi-automatic rifle he called a
“Democrat eradicator”.