A New York man accused of posting disturbing threats against President Donald Trump admitted to the FBI that he wrote the messages — but claimed he never actually wanted Trump or anyone else harmed, according to federal court documents.
James Michael Breen Jr. is facing two counts of knowingly and willfully making threats against the president, along with a third count involving an alleged interstate threat against an unidentified Trump administration cabinet official.
The federal case was filed September 7 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York after investigators traced a series of alarming posts on X to an account they believed belonged to Breen.
According to an FBI affidavit, the account posted several messages between July and August that appeared to call for violence against Trump and other senior administration officials.
Investigators said one August 1 post claimed the world would be a “better place” if Trump and one of his supporters “were assassinated.”
Minutes earlier, the account allegedly posted an even more chilling message about Trump, declaring that “somebody needs to kill him,” according to the affidavit.
The posts allegedly continued days later.
On August 7, investigators said the account targeted an unidentified cabinet official, asking who would be the first person to “take a shot” at the official.
The person is identified only as “V-1” in the federal filing, and authorities have not publicly revealed the cabinet member’s identity.
The investigation reached a new level on September 7 when FBI agents executed a federal search warrant at Breen’s Albany apartment.
Agents were authorized to look for evidence connected to suspected threats against the president as well as interstate communications containing threats to kidnap or injure someone.
Breen was not initially placed under arrest during the search and agreed to speak with investigators, according to the affidavit.
During that interview, Breen allegedly acknowledged using X and admitted writing the three posts highlighted by federal authorities.
However, he reportedly insisted that he never wanted Trump or the unnamed cabinet official physically harmed.
Breen allegedly told investigators that he was not trying to encourage violence and claimed his posts were supposed to express his belief that Trump and the cabinet member should be removed from office rather than attacked.
Federal investigators were not persuaded by that explanation.
According to the affidavit, authorities found probable cause to believe Breen knowingly and willfully made threats against Trump by encouraging someone to assassinate the president.
Investigators also alleged that the message involving the unidentified cabinet official amounted to an interstate communication containing a threat.
The federal criminal case now centers on the social media posts, Breen’s alleged admissions to investigators and his claim that despite the violent language, he never intended for anyone to actually be harmed.
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