Benjamin Smith Arrested For Allegedly Threatening To Kill George W. Bush

[okaawhatever]

Source: Huffington Post

NEW YORK, Jan 31 (Reuters) - A New York man sitting in a car that had a loaded rifle, machete and a container of gasoline was charged on Friday with threatening to kill George W. Bush after professing a romantic interest in the former president's oldest daughter, prosecutors said.

Benjamin Smith, 44, of Pittsford in upstate New York was arrested in Manhattan by the U.S. Secret Service, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court.

"Bush will get his," Smith screamed as he was taken into custody, according to the complaint. Later, when asked about his marital status, he told agents he was divorced and "working on a relationship with Barbara Bush."

At a preliminary hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Griswold told U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Pitman the government believes Smith was referring to the former president's daughter and not Bush's mother, who shares the same name.

It is a crime under federal law to threaten a current or former president.

On Thursday, the man's mother called police to report she had found a threatening note in the home she shares with her son and that a rifle was also missing, the complaint said.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/01/benjamin-smith-george-w-bush_n_4706373.html

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Story updated with defendant's name and hometown.

[valerief]

1. I'm confused. Don't people freely threaten Prez O all the time? nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. All the time, but not freely.

The threats against Obama are running at four times the rate of any other president.

[alp227]

14. Not quite...

That claim originates from an insiders' book written by Newsmax reporter Ronald Kessler. However, according to Politifact, the Secret Service director disputes that. I understand why the Secret Service would keep such stats under wraps to discourage copycat criminals. But the evidence is rather iffy.

[giftedgirl77]

3. On the daily...WTF right?

[blkmusclmachine]

13. Probably daily.

[Renew Deal]

22. Someone was sentenced to a few years in jail just last week

It happens, but people are punished.

[totodeinhere]

23. Trust me. Anyone openly threatening violence againt President Obama will receive a visit from

the Secret Service.

[valerief]

26. Which congressman said recently something about shooting the prez?

Or the implication was that.

[DJ13]

4. "working on a relationship with Barbara Bush."

Barbara says

[7962]

8. There's my laugh for the day! nt

[olddad56]

28. was he interested in Barbara Bush the daughter or Barbara Bush the mother?

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. "the former president's oldest daughter"....I thought the Bush daughters were twins?

I mean, I guess one twin is always "older" than the other, but it's a weird way to talk about twins in the newspaper.

[Blue_Tires]

27. To be fair I always thought they were kinda cute...

if only they had different parentage....

[chollybocker]

7. That's weird.

"It is a crime under federal law to threaten a current or former president."

Someone please put that on a banner for the next Teabagger Rally.

[valerief]

9. And post it on Capitol Hill. Many of our whore congress critters forget this. nt

[BainsBane]

17. This guy was sitting in a car with a gun

a machete and a can of gasoline. It looks like he was taking steps to actually go ahead with an assassination. That makes it more serious.

[Arkana]

29. Jesus. Shades of Richard Pavlick.

[Timez Squarez]

10. Technincally he is a war criminal wanted in Malaysia......

I'm sure the Malaysian Embassy will cover for Mr. Smith....

[hlthe2b]

11. "believes Smith was referring to the former president's daughter and not Bush's mother"

Ok, this is serious, but damn... I can't help but laugh at that...

[frazzled]

15. I know ...

The guy's crazy, the threat is serious ... but the reporting on that particular point made me laugh out loud!

[24601]

12. "The Secret Service tracked him using his cell phone to Manhattan, where they arrested him early

Friday morning."

Amateurs. We were at Disney last month and their technology (RF Chip in the wristband) tracks you to the specific table where you choose to sit. After you order in New Fantasyland's Be Our Guest Restaurant, you choose a table in one of three large rooms and in 10 min the someone shows up with your food order. No number on the table, no paper trail - just total situational awareness with what you ordered, how you paid, where you sat, what you think of Mickey, etc.

[Coyotl]

19. If you lose something, can they print you a map of the paths you walked?

kidding

[JoePhilly]

21. Tinker Bell picks it up and flies it back to you before you know you lost it.

[silvershadow]

25. No, but for 29.95, Amazon Parking Services can shuttle you to the parking lot by drone. nt

[Bonhomme Richard]

16. Are we sure he wasn't interested in bush's mom? n/t

[Coyotl]

18. "Working on a relationship." Is that like trying to get past security

so you can meet a celeb?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

20. Bush's daughters should sign up to fight daddy's wars....

[Renew Deal]

24. Off to jail for this guy

Though I suspect he needs long term mental health care