IOLA MAN ACCUSED OF MAKING ONLINE THREATS AGAINST WHITE HOUSE, FEDERAL OFFICIALS

  

An Iola man has been federally charged after allegedly making social media threats to blow up the White House and kill federal agents.

35-year-old Peter James Bloomfield was taken into custody on Wednesday, charged with Interstate Transmission of Threatening Communications.

According to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office – Southern District of Texas, a federal criminal complaint states that authorities linked Bloomfield to an account on the platform X that wrote multiple threatening messages directed at federal law enforcement and others.  Per the allegations, the account made several posts about where the closest FBI building was, killing federal agents and others, spending money to blow up the White House, and negative comments about America.  

Law enforcement also reported identifying a Facebook account in Bloomfield’s name that used the same profile image as the X account and had allegedly posted additional threats against federal agents and notable figures.  Further, the charges claim that the Facebook account included comments about making a hit list and who would be on it during a Fox News broadcast of a recent Senate floor hearing. 

The complaint also alleges that Bloomfield had researched explosives and their effect on demolishing a building.

According to the release, a federal search warrant resulted in the discovery of over 20 firearms and a significant amount of ammunition.

If convicted, Bloomfield faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.