An Arizona man was arrested after allegedly threatening to carry out bombings at the White House and other sites in Washington, D.C. Federal officials announced the arrest on Wednesday.
Jacob Aaron Hicks, 46, from Tucson, was charged with making an interstate threat to injure, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
A criminal complaint states Hicks allegedly sent an email to a local Tucson television station on September 23. The message claimed there would be an ‘imminent bomb strike against the White House and other locations in Washington, D.C.’ The television station promptly informed law enforcement, leading to an investigation.
We must take threats of violence like this one seriously. I am grateful to our local news station for referring this threat to law enforcement and to the FBI for addressing the situation quickly, professionally, and with the level of commitment it required.
Authorities identified Hicks as the alleged sender of the email. Federal investigators found additional drafts in Hicks’s account, also dated September 23. These drafts were directed at other news organizations and included similar threats.
The FBI is leading the investigation with support from the U.S. Secret Service. The collaboration between authorities and the community was essential in addressing the threat.
We appreciate the community partner who reported the threat to law enforcement. Cooperation and partnership are essential to protecting the American people.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed Hicks made his initial appearance in federal court on Thursday.