DOJ Reveals Chilling Plot: Man’s Plan to Assassinate ‘Pathetic’ President with .308 Rifle Uncovered

A West Virginia resident facing accusations of plotting to assassinate President Donald Trump with a .308 rifle in communications directed at Donald Trump Jr. has demonstrated a history of firearm misuse, according to his father.

The Department of Justice reports that Cody Smith’s father has claimed the 20-year-old once aimed a rifle at an individual during a previous altercation. This allegation is detailed in a detention order issued last week by a federal judge in the Northern District of West Virginia, Clarksburg.

“The defendant’s father stated that the defendant had previously brandished a .22 rifle at someone with whom he had a dispute,” the order mentions, utilizing information from the DOJ and federal prosecutors to support their argument for Smith’s detainment.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi noted, “Given the nature of the charges, supported by the defendant’s own statements, and his past behavior, the government has provided adequate evidence to suggest that the defendant presents a threat to the community, justifying his detention.”

Smith faces charges including two counts of threatening to assassinate the president, one count of influencing and retaliating against federal officials by threatening murder, and another count of influencing a federal official through threats of murder, as conveyed in his statements to Trump Jr. about the former president, according to the DOJ. He was taken into custody in January for issuing terroristic threats toward Trump supporters and ICE agents, with Harrison County jail records confirming these charges.

Earlier this month, Smith’s charges were upgraded after his presidential threats indictment was handed down. Aloi ordered him to be detained at a March 24 hearing.

Prosecutors say Smith went into detail about how he wanted to cut open Trump’s “jugular” and watch “the life” leave his “pathetic eyes” in DMs to Trump Jr.

He also made a social media post with a song titled “I Am Going to Kill the President,” accompanied by a threat to “IMPEACH THIS MOTHERF—ER WITH A .308.”

“I will kill you[r] b— a— dad,” Smith said in an Instagram post that had both Trump and Trump Jr. tagged, according to his indictment.

“I’m going to rape your worthless father … with his jugular cut while the life leaves his pathetic eyes,” Smith allegedly blasted in an IG direct message to Trump Jr.

According to his indictment, Smith railed about Trump, Trump Jr., and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his online posts and even went so far as to call into the “ICE tip line” to provide his name and city of residence, Clarksburg, while making death threats.

“Im gonna give them my name and where to find me so stay tuned you might get to see me rape and kill some proud Nazi boy f—s,” Smith allegedly posted, before calling the tip line.

Prosecutors say the initial investigation into Smith began on Jan. 19, when the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office contacted the West Virginia State Police about someone making threats. According to authorities, Smith had posted videos of himself in which he stated his intent to harm others.

In the videos, Smith called the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and said “he was going to attack and kill ICE agents,” according to prosecutors. He also allegedly threatened the person who answered his call.

“The safety and security of those we protect is our highest priority and all threats against the President of the United States will be investigated and prosecuted,” said Tad Lipscomb, the resident agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service resident office in Charleston, West Virginia, in a statement earlier this month. “We are grateful for our law enforcement partners at HSI, the FBI, the West Virginia State Police, and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the federal prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia for their assistance during this case.”

Smith is facing up to five years for each of the presidential threat charges and up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the remaining counts.

His defense lawyer has argued in court filings that he “suffers from a serious addiction to controlled substances” that began when he was 12 years old. Aloi acknowledged this in his March 24 detention order.

“The undersigned acknowledges defendant’s substance abuse issues, however, those issues do not negate the seriousness of the charges and the underlying conduct,” Aloi said.

On Thursday, Smith’s lawyer filed another motion for release, this one specifically “for the purpose of attending an in-patient substance abuse treatment.” The motion asks that Smith be placed in an inpatient substance abuse treatment center in Parkersburg as he waits to go on trial. Prosecutors have said they oppose the request for release.