Georgia man accused of threatening FBI Director Christopher Wray

A man in Georgia has been indicted on federal charges for making threats to injure FBI Director Christopher Wray and others, the U.S. attorney’s office in Georgia said Thursday.

John Woodbury, 34, of Roswell, Ga., has been identified as the man who posted online on June 7 threatening violence against Wray.

In his message on 4chan, Woodbury said, “Let’s show them what a [expletive] ‘Nazi’ […]. It’s time to burn these [expletive] down and hang them from trees. Hit them where it [expletive] hurts. Hit Chris at his home. Make his family fear stepping one foot outside their [expletive] door.”

Woodbury was arrested and arraigned Thursday. He was indicted by a federal grand jury July 9.

“Sending threats to physically harm a public official in an attempt to thwart the administration of justice is a criminal offense,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan said in a statement. “Director Wray and other law enforcement officials work tirelessly to safeguard our freedoms and to protect our citizens from harm. Threats against such public servants, who have dedicated themselves to enforcing our criminal laws, is especially heinous.”

The FBI is investigating the case, the release said.

The arrest comes at a time of increased concern about threats to public officials. Former President Trump was grazed by a bullet Saturday after there was an assassination attempt against him at his rally in Pennsylvania.

According to data from 2023, threats against public officials were on the rise last year, and experts expressed concern that the trend will worsen.