Spencer Gear, a 32-year-old man from Las Vegas, has been charged with threatening to injure and kill government officials in three states and the District of Columbia, including a New York judge and prosecutor who handled former President Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial. The charges against Gear include 22 felony charges of threatening a federal official and transmitting a communication containing threats to injure. Gear pleaded not guilty to these charges and is currently being held in federal custody in Nevada. His arrest occurred after his indictment was filed under seal on July 16.
Rebecca Levy, a federal public defender representing Gear in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas, did not respond to requests for comment. The indictment lists 11 alleged victims by initials, including Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York Judge Juan M. Merchan. Bragg’s office declined to comment on the matter. U.S. Magistrate Judge Brenda Weksler cited concerns about the number of calls at play in the case and the language Gear allegedly used in a June 3 telephone message directed at the judge and district attorney as reasons for remanding Gear to federal custody ahead of trial. The judge noted that Gear had minimal prior criminal history but had been charged by federal authorities with resisting arrest the previous week.
Bragg’s office reported at least 56 “actionable threats” targeted at Bragg, his family, and staff, and nearly 500 threatening emails and phone calls since April. These threats included bomb threats at the homes of individuals involved in the case, a photo showing sniper sights aimed at those involved in the case, and threatening messages indicating intent to harm. Police recorded 89 threats to Bragg, his family, or staff in 2023, up from just one threat in 2022. The threats spiked in March 18, the same day when Trump falsely claimed he was about to be arrested online and encouraged supporters to protest.
In response to the threats, a 26-year-old man from New York was charged with sending text messages threatening New York state Attorney General Letitia James and the judge in Trump’s civil fraud case if they did not cease action in the Trump matter. Additionally, FBI agents killed an armed Utah man suspected of making threats against Bragg, Garland, James, and President Joe Biden. The family members of the deceased individual described him as a gun enthusiast who was concerned about what he viewed as a corrupt and overreaching government. The threats against government officials and law enforcement have raised concerns about the safety and security of those involved in high-profile cases like the Trump hush money trial.
