BANGOR, Maine — A Waterville man has been charged in connection with alleged threats shared on YouTube that target law enforcement, immigrants, and several high-profile political figures, including the president.
Benjamin Brown, 45, was arrested Monday and has been charged with transmitting threatening interstate communications. The FBI issued a warrant for his arrest.
According to court documents, Brown posted videos on YouTube in which he apparently says he wants to kill leaders in the highest form of government, such as President Joe Biden, Maine Gov. Janet Mills, Republican Sen. Susan Collins, and former President Barack Obama.
Brown is also accused of making threats to kill "illegal" immigrants, claiming he is collecting guns to prepare for a civil war and full uprising against police officers, CIA, and FBI agents.
FBI agents reportedly traced a post back to Brown's email and IP addresses on Feb. 20 that read as follows: "That's right. And pretty soon we're going to kill every single one of you illegal immigrants. You're all going to die at the hands of our guns. You broke into the wrong country, and you're going to pay for it with your life."
The affidavit also alleges Brown shared another threatening post in December: "I already hope this does happen because it will allow me to kill Barack Hussein Obama and Joe Biden in the rest of the disgusting deep state democrats along with the senator and governor of Maine."
In another post, Brown apparently expressed his loyalty to former President Donald Trump, claiming Trump is "innocent of all charges" and that "judges are corrupt," according to the affidavit.
The documents also suggest Brown posted this message on Feb. 7: "Sadly President Trump will not be back in the white house because the democrats are going to steal it. The only way to save this country is a civil war or a revolution. We must take up arms against the deep state government and overthrow them with our guns because the only way to get rid of evil is to kill it."
FBI and Secret Service agents have interviewed Brown several times in recent years, according to the affidavit, during which he reportedly told law enforcement he is exercising his right to free speech and had no intention to hurt anyone.
The affidavit states Brown made several claims about stockpiling weapons, but court documents show no indication of weapons being found at his home in Waterville when law enforcement executed the search warrant.
Brown appeared Tuesday at the U.S. District Court in Bangor. He has been scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday.
Attorney Donald Brown, who is representing Benjamin Brown, told NEWS CENTER Maine in an email that he was still getting up to speed on the details of the case but wrote that Benjamin Brown maintains his innocence.