LAFAYETTE — A Lafayette woman is facing federal charges after prosecutors say she made violent threats on social media against President Donald Trump, a case that underscores the dangers of threatening online posts.
Nathalie Rose Jones, 50, was arrested Saturday after federal investigators said she used Instagram and Facebook between August 2 and August 9 to threaten to kill the president. In one post, Jones allegedly wrote that she was willing to “sacrificially kill” Trump.
According to court documents, the U.S. Secret Service interviewed Jones before her arrest. She admitted making the threats but denied any intent to carry them out. Jones was taken into custody after attending a protest near the White House.
Federal law makes it a crime to threaten the president’s life, with penalties that can include prison time. Officials say the case serves as a reminder that online threats — even if made in anger — will not be taken lightly.
“Threatening the life of the President is one of the most serious crimes and one that will be met with swift and unwavering prosecution. Make no mistake — justice will be served,” the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pierro, said in a statement.
This case should serve as a reminder that while free speech is protected, violent threats cross a legal line. What is posted online can carry real-world consequences.
