A federal judge has ordered former U.S. Coast Guard lieutenant Peter Stinson to home detention with GPS monitoring while prosecutors continue to pursue charges that he made repeated threats against President Donald Trump over a period of several years.
The 63-year-old Virginia resident, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1988 to 2021 and was recognized as an expert marksman and FEMA instructor, appeared in court Wednesday wearing a green prison jumpsuit. During the hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ivan Davis determined that, under the conditions set by the court, Stinson’s release to home detention did not pose a threat to the public.
Stinson faces serious accusations from federal prosecutors, who allege he made numerous threats against Trump on multiple social media platforms including X, Reddit, and Bluesky. An FBI affidavit submitted Friday details a pattern of menacing and violent rhetoric, including references to assassination and the use of firearms, poison, and knives.
In one post dated May 9, Stinson allegedly wrote that Trump should be “Luigied,” a reference to Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. In another post, he reportedly stated, “When he dies, the party is going to be yuge,” a clear allusion to Trump.
Stinson’s public defender argued that the alleged posts — including statements like “I’d take the shot, but I’m a lousy shot, so it would be a waste” — fall under the protection of political hyperbole guaranteed by the First Amendment. The defense also claimed that Stinson lacked the actual intent or capacity to carry out violence.
Prosecutors countered that argument by pointing to Stinson’s military record, noting that he received expert marksman ribbons — casting doubt on his public claims of being a poor shooter.
The court also reviewed allegations that Stinson made repeated references to “8647,” a number prosecutors link to a controversial Instagram post by former FBI Director James Comey that was interpreted by some as a veiled threat against Trump. Stinson allegedly echoed the phrase across multiple platforms.
Additionally, the FBI affidavit claims that Stinson identified himself as a member of the far-left Antifa movement. In a post dated February 2, he reportedly declared: “Sure. This is war. Sides will be drawn. Antifa always wins in the end. Violence is inherently necessary.”
Despite these concerns, Judge Davis noted that prosecutors had not yet met the burden required to establish probable cause and allowed them until next Wednesday to submit additional written briefs supporting the case.
