Man charged with making death threats against Biden, Pelosi, Michigan Gov. Whitmer

LANSING, Mich. — A Michigan man is facing charges after authorities said he posted death threats online targeting President Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

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Joshua Docter, 21, turned himself in Tuesday to face one count each of making a threat of terrorism and using a computer to commit a crime, WXMI reported.

Docter is accused of making several threatening comments in January on iFunny, a social media platform. The FBI initially opened the investigation before passing to state authorities.

“Threatening elected officials is against the law and my office will prosecute those who attempt to intimidate or terrorize our state and federal leaders,” Attorney General Dana Nesse said in a news release.

>> Related: Man found with van full of guns, explosives plotted to kill Joe Biden, feds say

Authorities said Docter posted messages saying that “he would use a gun to shoot and kill the elected officials and would ‘be the catalyst’ for a new American revolution.”

“(Docter) also had information on how to make a bomb and where the find the necessary materials on his smart phone,” officials with Nessel’s office said in a news release. He appeared in court Tuesday for an arraignment and is scheduled to appear in court again next month.

>> Related: Men who planned Whitmer kidnapping discussed kidnapping Virginia governor, FBI says

Last year, federal investigators busted a plot by a militia group to kidnap Whitmer, who was facing criticism at the time for enacting lockdown orders to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Officials with the FBI later said the group responsible for the plot had also discussed kidnapping Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.

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