Arizona Man Arrested for Threatening Bombings at White House

Federal officials arrested an Arizona man on Wednesday. Jacob Aaron Hicks, 46, from Tucson, is accused of threatening to bomb the White House and other locations in Washington, D.C. He faces charges for making an interstate threat to injure, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

According to a criminal complaint, Hicks allegedly sent an email to a local Tucson television station on September 23. The email claimed an impending bomb strike against the White House and other sites in the nation’s capital. The station contacted law enforcement, triggering an investigation into the threat.

Authorities identified Hicks as the suspected sender of the threatening email. U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine emphasized the importance of taking such threats seriously. He praised the television station for alerting law enforcement and commended the FBI for their swift response.

Further investigation revealed additional email drafts in Hicks’ account. These drafts, also dated September 23, were meant for other news outlets. They contained similar threats regarding the White House and other Washington, D.C. locations.

The FBI is leading the investigation with help from the U.S. Secret Service. FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day thanked the television station for their cooperation, highlighting the importance of community collaboration in ensuring public safety.

Hicks appeared in federal court for the first time on Thursday, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.