WASHINGTON — A Georgia man has been indicted on accusations he threatened FBI Director Christopher Wray on 4chan, an internet forum that is popular on the far-right.
John Woodbury, 34, of Roswell, Georgia, was arrested Thursday after a federal grand jury indicted him this month on one count of threats by interstate commerce and another count of threat to a federal law enforcement officer, according to the indictment. After his arrest, Woodbury was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Catherine M. Salinas.
"Let’s show them what a f---ing ‘Nazi’... looks like," Woodbury allegedly wrote in a post on 4chan on June 7. "It’s time to burn these mother f---ers down and hang them from trees. Hit them where it f---ing hurts. Hit Chris at his home. Make his family fear stepping one foot outside their god damn door."
Ryan K. Buchanan, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, said in a news release Thursday that threatening physical harm to a public official to "thwart the administration of justice" is a criminal offense.
"Director Wray and other law enforcement officials work tirelessly to safeguard our freedoms and to protect our citizens from harm," Buchanan said. "Threats against such public servants, who have dedicated themselves to enforcing our criminal laws, is especially heinous. Our office will remain steadfast in helping to ensure that public officials are able to carry out their duties free from fear or intimidation."
Court records do not yet indicate whether Woodbury entered a plea, but criminal defendants almost always initially enter not guilty pleas. It was not clear Thursday whether Woodbury had an attorney.
