A Texas man has been ordered to remain in jail after being charged with making threats against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Robert King, 35, was arrested on March 29 in McKinney, Texas, after posting alarming messages on Facebook.
During a detention hearing in Dallas, U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Toliver ruled that King poses a flight risk and a danger to the community. Despite his attorney’s arguments that he had no prior charges and was seeking treatment for mental health issues, the judge decided to keep him in custody.
King’s threats surfaced when he allegedly shared a PBS NewsHour article on social media, expressing a desire for Noem to face a "horrible and agonizing demise." He described her as "Nazi scum" and stated that she should be tried for war crimes. In another post, he threatened to shoot ICE agents, labeling them a "secret police force" and claiming he would "open fire" if he encountered them.
Following these posts, the FBI received tips about King’s threats, leading to his arrest. During the hearing, prosecutors noted that King was living with his sister and brother-in-law, who is a police officer and a former Customs and Border Protection agent, when he made the threats, which ultimately led to him being asked to leave their home.
King was visibly upset after the ruling, crying as he left the courtroom. His attorney is now seeking to have him transferred to a different facility where he can access mental health care and medications. King remains in Kaufman County detention as the case continues.