Kathrine Frich
A Michigan resident who shares both initials and surname with the US vice president has received a prison sentence for online threats targeting top officials.
Court documents show the man posted a series of violent messages earlier this year before being traced by the Secret Service.
Identical name, very different case
According to reporting from The New York Times, the defendant, James Donald Vance Jr., 67, pleaded guilty in July to several federal charges.
His threats were directed at President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other public figures.
Agents arrested him in June after linking him to posts on Bluesky published in March and April. Investigators said he had vowed to kill the president and vice president, prompting an immediate federal response.
Prosecutors noted that he also made threats against Elon Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency, and against Donald Trump Jr. following speculation about the latter’s political ambitions.
Threatening messages
“If Trump, Vance or Musk ever come to my city again, they’ll leave in a body bag,” the criminal complaint quoted him as saying. He added: “I’ll either get shot by a Secret Service sniper or I’ll spend the rest of my life in prison. Either way, I only have about 10 years to live.”
In another post he warned that he would “kill” Donald Trump Jr. “before he receives Secret Service protection.”
He was charged with threatening to kill or injure the president and vice president and with transmitting threatening interstate communications. Each offence carries a maximum penalty of five years.
The defendant’s federal public defender did not reply to media requests for comment, according to US outlets.
Sentencing arguments
Ahead of the hearing, defence attorney Helen C. Nieuwenhuis argued in a filing that Vance should receive a suspended sentence.
She described him as a first-time offender with significant medical and psychological issues.
“His statements, while unacceptable, were mere words, not plans, and he never took any action to harm anyone,” she wrote.
She added that he had cooperated fully with investigators and admitted responsibility.
The defence also cited his childhood trauma, noting that he experienced severe neglect and “was not taught how to use the toilet.”
The filing stated: “Vance still likes to wear diapers,” referencing his social media pseudonym “Diaperjdv.”
Prosecutors push back
Federal prosecutors sought a minimum of 30 months in prison.
They highlighted a prior 2018 investigation into earlier threats against Donald Trump and said he had a history of threatening behaviour targeting multiple people.
A sentencing memo also cited an earlier Bluesky post from February in which he displayed a firearm and wrote: “Anti-MAGA tool. And yes, that’s my gun.”
“Threats to our nation’s leaders and their families will not be tolerated,” said William Shink, the Secret Service’s Detroit special agent in charge, following the ruling.
Sources: Digi24, The New York Times
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, who may have used AI in the preparation
