A 25-year-old from Michigan is in hot water after allegedly making online threats geared towards conservative Christians, particularly in the wake of Donald Trump’s recent election victory. Isaac Sissel, hailing from Ann Arbor, was taken into custody on a Tuesday morning and hit with federal charges concerning a threatening communication, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
The FBI’s National Threat Operations Center received an ominous message on November 2, which included explicit plans for an assault, stating the individual aimed to “carry out an attack against conservative Christian filth in the event Trump wins the election.” Sissel purportedly claimed he had a stolen AR-15 and teased about a victim that he preferred not to name so he could evade the FBI, indicating that they would be powerless until he executed his plans.
Law enforcement was able to connect the dots leading to Sissel through phone records and an IP address linked to the threat. Further investigation revealed his association with various Reddit accounts, including the ominously titled “ShootUpTrumpRally” and “WillShootTrumpSoon.” Reddit responded by confirming that these accounts had been banned from their platform.
On November 4, federal agents tracked down Sissel at a Travelodge in Canton, where he reportedly vented his bitterness toward conservative Christians and made alarming remarks about Trump. According to court records, he clarified that he would not kill Trump himself but expressed he felt it would be his duty to stand aside if someone else were to attempt it. “Sissel said that he hated conservative Christians, who he enjoyed threatening,” documented agents.
While investigators did not recover any weapons during their visit, Sissel had previously discussed hiding a gun, which authorities found unsurprising. In a curious twist, he also mentioned possessing a chemical irritant but was stopped from accessing it by officers. His contempt extended beyond politics; he shared feelings of anger towards people visiting a local rehabilitation clinic, referring to some as “Christians” and admitting he liked to harass them by falsely claiming he was selling drugs.
Sissel’s living situation appears to be precarious, as investigators noted he lacked a consistent residence in Michigan. His troubling past includes a history of arrests related to stalking and harassment, raising further concerns among authorities. A court appearance was set for Tuesday afternoon, though it remains unclear if it took place as scheduled.
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