Nevada Man Charged with Death Threats Against Trump's Prosecutor and Judge

A Nevada resident, Spencer Gear, has been charged with making death threats against the prosecutor and judge involved in Donald Trump's criminal trial. The threats were directed at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Justice Juan Merchan, who presided over Trump's case. Gear pleaded not guilty and is currently detained.

A Nevada man has been charged with making a death threat against the prosecutor who secured Donald Trump's criminal conviction and the judge who oversaw the former U.S. president's trial, according to court records and a person familiar with the case. Spencer Gear was charged in Nevada federal court on July 16 with 22 counts of making threats to kill or injure officials, including making a call in early June to New York threatening to kill two individuals referred to as "A.B." and "J.M."

The indictment did not name the targets, but a person familiar with the case said the initials referred to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Justice Juan Merchan. Bragg in 2023 brought the first-ever charges against a U.S. president, past or present, and Merchan oversaw the six-week trial. Gear pleaded not guilty and was ordered detained at a Las Vegas court hearing on Tuesday, records show. Gear's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump, the Republican nominee for president in the Nov. 5 election, was convicted on May 30 on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money paid to a porn star before the 2016 election. He has vowed to appeal the verdict following his Sept. 18 sentencing. The indictment against Gear also referenced threats against people with initials matching those of federal judges in Washington, D.C., who have overseen the cases of people charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Trump's lawyers declined to comment. A 20-year-old gunman tried to assassinate Trump during a July 13 political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, wounding Trump in the ear. The shooter's motive is still unclear.

(With inputs from agencies.)