Federal Jury Clears Virginia Man of Soliciting Violence Against Trump on Social Media

A federal jury returned a unanimous not-guilty verdict, acquitting a Virginia man of charges related to social media posts that called for violence against President Donald Trump.

The Details: Peter Stinson, a retired Coast Guard officer, was charged with soliciting a crime of violence after federal prosecutors alleged he posted several messages on social media platforms, including X and Bluesky, that advocated for the assassination of Trump. However, his attorneys claimed the posts were an exercise of free speech protected by the Constitution. According to Fox News, Stinson's attorneys argued that their client's posts were "political advocacy that the First Amendment was squarely designed to protect," instead of threats. The jury deliberated for two hours following a two-day trial.

For Context: Stinson’s social media posts date back to at least January 2021, when he wrote, “Let’s just shoot the orange and put him out of his misery.” Investigators allege that Stinson used both X and Bluesky to “encourage violence” against the president. In one message, he wrote, “I’d pull the trigger. But I’m not a good enough shot,” according to news reports. The jury’s acquittal comes amid heightened concerns over political violence, including the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and ongoing threats against both Republican and Democratic lawmakers and officials.

How The Media Covered It: Fox 5 DC (Center bias) focused on the details surrounding the case and included a quote from Stinson who said he’s "thrilled that the jury acquitted me and found me not guilty." Fox News (Right) framed the acquittal as a win for the First Amendment, stressing the constitutional questions around when angry online rhetoric becomes a true threat. MSNBC (Left) focused on how the case showed more problems inside the Justice Department during Trump’s second term, describing the verdict as “another legal loss” for a prosecutor appointed by Trump.

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