Federal prosecutors have indicted a 20-year-old Everett resident on two counts of threatening a federal official after a series of social media posts in 2025 that targeted the sitting president. According to a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington and reporting by KING 5, the case began on August 19, 2025, when Phillip Richard Wharton allegedly posted a graphic threat referencing the president alongside a photograph of himself.

According to charging documents cited by KING 5, U.S. Capitol Police alerted the U.S. Secret Service the same day. A second message was posted shortly afterward, in which Wharton allegedly complained that earlier threats had been removed from the platform.

Investigators identified Wharton through an Instagram account using the same username and personal details. Agents also matched images from the account with his Washington State Department of Licensing photograph. According to reporting by KING 5, agents met separately with Wharton and his father, and Wharton agreed to stop posting threatening content following a warning. KING 5 reported that Wharton attributed the threats to his belief that President Donald Trump was involved with Jeffrey Epstein.

Prosecutors allege that Wharton resumed making threats on September 23, 2025, from a separate account labeled “@saydieonline,” including a statement asserting an intent to kill the president. According to reporting by MyNorthwest, that post led to his arrest. Additional posts described in charging documents include images of Wharton holding an object resembling a firearm and artwork with violent themes.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office states that the grand jury indictment charges two counts of threatening a federal official, a federal offense that carries potential prison time if convicted. At the time of publication, no trial date has been announced.

Why this matters for Southwest Washington

While the case centers in Snohomish County, the involvement of federal protective agencies — including the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Capitol Police — reflects national security protocols that also apply within Cowlitz County. Local law enforcement agencies in Longview and Kelso routinely coordinate with federal partners when online threats escalate across jurisdictions. Federal authorities have repeatedly emphasized that digital posts expressing intent to harm public officials are investigated as criminal acts, regardless of where they originate.

As online platforms continue to serve as a venue for explicit threats and political intimidation, federal cases such as this one demonstrate how quickly investigations can involve multiple agencies and cross-county coordination. For communities along the I‑5 corridor, including Cowlitz County, these cases highlight the systems that activate when threats emerge — and the legal consequences that follow.

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