A 36-year-old who threatened to kill President Trump on several occasions was sentenced to more than a year in federal prison.
A federal judge sentenced Mickael Gedlu to 18 months in prison on Friday after he “knowingly and willfully [made] a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon” the president. Gedlu pleaded guilty to making threats against Trump’s life on social media several times between December 2018 and June 2019.
In a YouTube video, Gedlu claimed that he was “waiting for Trump to visit Dallas before I attempt to assassinate him.” In a Facebook post, he admitted that the had been advocating for Trump’s assassination, writing, “For 20 straight months now, openly and publicly, I have been calling for President Trump’s death.”
When Trump visited Dallas in May, Gedlu was arrested after authorities spotted him holding a “Kill Trump” sign. He shouted, “Kill the president,” as he was being detained.
Gedlu’s father, Gizaw Gedlu, described his son as disabled and mentally confused, saying he had been receiving treatment for mental health issues. He explained, “That’s his problem. He talks too much, simply. Doctors give him medicine. Sometimes he’s not taking it.”
The 36-year-old’s LinkedIn profile lists military service, but it has not been confirmed that Gedlu served in the Army as his profile claims.
