A federal jury convicted Trent Schneider, a 58-year-old resident of Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, on March 26 of making a true threat in interstate commerce to injure several public officials, including former President Donald J. Trump. The verdict followed a three-day trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
The case highlights the serious legal consequences for individuals who threaten violence against political figures and members of the judiciary. Schneider faces up to five years in federal prison for his conviction, with sentencing yet to be scheduled.
According to court records, on October 21, 2025, Schneider posted an Instagram video stating that judges, doctors, lawyers, and police “all should be killed” and that he planned to “take care of business” himself by acquiring firearms. He specifically mentioned Trump by name and included captions suggesting execution. On the same day as the social media post, Schneider appeared at Lake County courthouse and told a judge he would burn down the building during his pending foreclosure case.
The conviction was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Dai Tran, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Chicago Field Office; along with assistance from local law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hanna Helwig and Paige Nutini prosecuted the case.
“Let this conviction send a clear message that it is never acceptable to threaten a political figure or a member of the judiciary,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Political violence is not only intolerable, but it is a serious crime. Working closely with our law enforcement partners, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will find, arrest, and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those responsible for criminally threatening the safety of our elected officials and judges.”
“Threats of political violence are not a joke,” said SAC Tran. “They are a federal crime. The U.S. Secret Service vigorously pursues all threats to harm the President of the United States. I am proud of our agents’ work in this case and thank our partners at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Winthrop Harbor Police Department for their assistance in bringing this defendant to justice.”
The outcome underscores ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address threats against public officials.
