FBI Shoots Dead Man Who Allegedly Threatens to Kill President Biden to US Attorney General

Illustration of the FBI team. (Wikimedia Commons/Official US Navy Page)

JAKARTA - FBI agents shot dead a man who allegedly threatened to kill President Joe Biden and other United States officials hours before the president landed in Utah on Wednesday, according to authorities.

President Biden is scheduled to fly to Utah on Wednesday, in the midst of a trip to the western US. He spent Wednesday in New Mexico, where he spoke at a factory that will manufacture windmills, reported by The National News, August 10.

Special agents attempted to make arrests on warrant at Craig Deleeuw Robertson's home in Provo, south of Salt Lake City, the FBI said in a statement.

FBI SWAT agents gave orders to the man when he pointed a gun at them, according to a law enforcement source with knowledge of the incident.

Robertson faces three federal charges, including making threats against the president and influencing, obstructing and retaliating against a federal law enforcement officer with threats. Investigators noted that Robertson appeared to be in possession of a "sniper rifle" and several other firearms.

Several threats came just before President Biden's planned trip to Utah on Wednesday night.

"I HEAR BIDEN IS COMING TO UTAH," read one threat, according to prosecutors. "OPENED MY OLD GHILLE SUIT AND DUST FROM THE M24 SNIPER. WELCOME, BUFFOON HEAD!" he wrote.

Robertson has also posted threats online in recent months against politicians and prosecutors who brought cases against former President Donald Trump.

In a post on Monday, Robertson said, "Hey FBI, you still monitoring my social media? Checking to make sure I have a loaded gun if you stop by again."

"The FBI is reviewing a shooting involving agents that occurred at approximately 6:15 am on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 in Provo, Utah. The incident began when special agents attempted to make an arrest and search a residence. The subject was deceased," the statement said. an FBI spokesperson in a statement to CNN.

"The FBI takes any shooting incident seriously involving our agents or a member of the task force. In accordance with FBI policy, the shooting incident is being reviewed by the FBI's Division of Inspections," the spokesperson continued.

Meanwhile, the Secret Service, which is responsible for the protection of high-ranking government officials, including President Biden, submitted questions to the bureau.

"The Secret Service is aware of an FBI investigation involving an individual in Utah who has demonstrated a threat to someone the Secret Service protects," a Secret Service spokesperson said.

In addition to President Biden, Robertson also allegedly made threats on Facebook against Attorney General Merrick Garland – including an image of a semi-automatic pistol emblazoned with the words "Merrick Garland Eradication Toolkit" and a description of a dream about killing the attorney general.

Other names allegedly also on his threat list include Vice President Kamala Harris, New York State Attorney General Letitia James and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Not only that, in a Truth Social post highlighted by prosecutors, Robertson took aim at New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who had filed criminal charges against Trump stemming from a hush money scheme prior to the 2016 election.

Much earlier, FBI agents had met Robertson at his residence last March in connection with social media posts, investigators wrote in a statement.

At the time, he was reluctant to speak to agents, saying it had all been a dream and insisting agents would not return without a warrant.

After that, Robertson allegedly repeatedly threatened FBI agents online. One Facebook post included in the court documents said: "TO MY FRIENDS AT THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF IDIOT: I KNOW YOU'RE READING THIS AND YOU DON'T KNOW HOW CLOSE YOUR AGENT COMES TO 'BANG.'"

It said President Joe Biden had been briefed on the matter while in New Mexico.

It is known that this case arose in the midst of increasing criticism directed at national and local leaders, explained the 2024 election.

Meanwhile, FBI Director Christopher Wray once called the level of threat "unprecedented" against FBI agents.