Left: New York Attorney General Letitia James talks to the media, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File). Center: Justice Engoron. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File). Right: Former President Donald Trump speaks during a break in closing arguments at New York Supreme Court, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Just two days before Donald Trump was subject to a gag order in his criminal hush money and election interference case in New York out of abundant concerns that his provocative speech might encourage his supporters to commit violence against witnesses, prosecutors, court staff, judges and their family members, a man who promised to harm the judge and attorney general involved in Donald Trump’s civil fraud case in New York was arrested.
Tyler Vogel, 26, of Lancaster, New York, is accused of making the threats on March 24 at 10:23 p.m. two days before Trump was limited in the criminal matter and one day before a deadline was up for the former president to post a portion of the full bond on his $454 million civil fraud fine. Trump posted a $175 million bond to ensure the order late Monday.
According to police, Vogel sent a text message to New York Attorney General Letitia James, stating he would use “death and physical harm if she did not comply with his requests to cease action” against Donald Trump, specifically, the seizure of his assets and properties following New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron’s ruling in February. A complaint filed in Lancaster notes that Vogel is accused of using a “paid online background website” to search for James and Engoron’s private information and that this “confirmed intentions to follow through with the threats were his demands not met.”
Vogel is facing two felony counts of making terroristic threats and a pair of second-degree aggravated harassment misdemeanor charges. As first reported by the Buffalo News, Vogel is accused of telling James that he was giving her “fair warning” that she was “not to permanently steal Donald Trumps assets or his property.”
“Furthermore,” Vogel allegedly wrote to James, “you are not to imprison Donald Trump.”
Public inmate records show that Vogel was detained at the Erie County Holding Center on March 25. A statement released two days after his arrest by Erie County District Attorney John Flynn noted that if convicted, the 26-year-old man faces a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
In texts to both Engoron and James, Vogel reportedly told the judge that he would defend himself with “deadly force” and would go after the officials with the same. Vogel is accused of telling James in particular that he had a “whole wall of deadly weapons” to choose from.
“I promise I will harm you if you even dare to permanently steal Donald Trumps assets or his property,” he is accused of writing in one text sent late last month.
Flynn also disclosed last week that protection orders were issued on behalf of James and Engoron.
Vogel was being held without bail pending forensic examination as of March 28. It is unclear if he has retained a private attorney or if he is being represented by a public defender. A spokesperson for the attorney’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.