A 36-year-old Florida man just got 2 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to making repeated online death threats against President Donald Trump and other federal officials.

A 36-year-old Florida man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to making repeated online death threats against President Donald Trump and other federal officials.

According to court documents, the man used social media and other online platforms to post multiple threats targeting the President and government officials over several months. Federal prosecutors argued that the threats were credible and caused concern for the safety of those named.

After pleading guilty, the judge handed down a 24-month prison sentence in federal court this week. Officials say the case is part of a broader crackdown on online threats against public officials.

“The Internet Is Not Anonymous”
U.S. Attorney’s Office officials said the sentencing sends a clear message: online threats are treated the same as threats made in person.

“Threatening the life of the President or any federal official is a serious federal crime,” a DOJ spokesperson said. “Freedom of speech does not include the right to threaten violence.”

The defendant’s name has not been released pending final court filings.

Free Speech vs. Public Safety
The case has sparked debate online.
Some argue 2 years is appropriate given the position of the targets and the repeated nature of the threats. Others say the punishment raises questions about where the line is between protected speech and criminal conduct.