Marc Shultz, a 66-year-old resident of Chula Vista, California, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for threatening Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis due to her prosecution of Former President Donald Trump. The indictment, presented in court, states that on October 4 and 5, 2023, Shultz posted violent threats towards District Attorney Willis on YouTube live stream videos, including a statement that she "will be killed like a dog."
U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan emphasized, “Sending death threats to a public official is a criminal offense that will not be tolerated. Our office will continue to diligently coordinate with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to help protect public officials while performing their duties and who deserve to do so free from threats of harm and intimidation.”
Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, Keri Farley, added, “Threats against any individual, credible or not, is a very serious crime that the FBI will not tolerate. Threats of violence against government officials, specifically, threaten the very fabric of our democracy. We want everyone to know that if you engage in such behavior, you will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
The case is currently being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bret R. Hobson and Brent Alan Gray prosecuting it. Shultz made his initial appearance in federal court in San Diego, California on May 2, 2024, and is set to be formally arraigned in Atlanta in June.
It is important to note that the indictment against Shultz only contains charges, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The burden of proving his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt lies with the government at trial.
For more information on the case, the public can contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.