James Dale Reed, Threatening a Major Candidate, Maryland 2020

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal criminal complaint has been filed today charging James Dale Reed, age 42, of Frederick, Maryland, on the federal charge of threats against a major candidate for President or Vice President—specifically, former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris.

Reed is currently in state custody and a federal warrant has been lodged as a detainer to ensure his appearance in U.S. District Court at a future date.

The federal charge was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Bo Keane of the United States Secret Service – Baltimore Field Office.

United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur stated, “We take these types of threats extremely seriously. Such threats to commit violence are illegal and have no place in our democracy, and we will hold accountable those who make them. We are grateful for the assistance of the City of Frederick Police Department and to citizens who provided tips that ultimately led to Mr. Reed’s arrest and these federal charges.”

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, on October 4, 2020, a letter threatening candidates for President and Vice President—specifically, former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris—was left on the doorstep of a resident in Frederick in the early hours of the morning. The likeness of the subject delivering the letter was captured by a door camera. The resident did not know the subject but had several signs in the yard supporting the candidates threatened in the letter.

The letter, which is included in full in the attached Complaint, contains the following passage:

“This is a warning to anyone reading this letter if you are a Biden/Harris supporter you will be targeted. We have a list of homes and addresses by your election signs. We are the ones with those scary guns, We are the ones your children have nightmares about…When We capture Grandpa Biden We will all severely beat him to the point of death as for Mrs. Harris she will be bent over and Anally raped by my rifle barrel. Then for the Grand end the [sic] both will be executed on National Television.”

Reed is charged with one count of threats against a major candidate for President or Vice President, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. If convicted, he faces this sentence. A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the U.S. Secret Service for its work in the investigation and thanked the Frederick Police Department for its assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys James G. Warwick and Cassie Mathias, who are prosecuting the case.

Related Federal Cases