A wanted sex offender in Arizona allegedly made the threat on social media
File photo: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a campaign event in Asheboro, North Carolina, August 21, 2024. © Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images
Authorities in the US are looking for a man who had threatened on social media to kill Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who survived an assassination attempt last month.
Trump was in Arizona on Thursday, planning to visit the US-Mexico border and highlight his policy opposing illegal immigration. Shortly before he was scheduled to speak, the Cochise County sheriff’s office sent out an alert.
Ronald Lee Syvrud “is being sought as an investigative lead for threats to kill a presidential candidate,” Sheriff Mark Dannels said in a Facebook post.
Syvrud’s last known address was in Benson, about 65km from Montezuma Pass, where Trump’s event was scheduled to be held. The 66-year-old was described as having outstanding warrants in Wisconsin for driving under the influence and neglecting to appear in court, as well as in Arizona for a hit-and-run and “failing to register as a sex offender.”
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections lists Syvrud on their sex offender registry for “second-degree sexual assault of a child,” according to Fox News.
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When reporters asked Trump about the manhunt, he said no one had told him about it.
“No, I have not heard that but I am not that surprised and the reason is because I want to do things that are very bad for the bad guys,” the former president said.
While it might be dangerous to be at the border, he added, “I have a job to do.”
Trump was speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13 when a gunman opened fire from the roof of a nearby building, clipping his ear and taking the life of an audience member. Two more people were seriously wounded before a Secret Service counter-sniper killed the shooter.
The Secret Service director eventually resigned because of the incident, and the agency implemented tougher security protocols for Trump, including bulletproof glass barriers at his outdoor rallies.