West Virginia Librarian Faces Terroristic Threat Charges Over Alleged Trump Assassination Call on Social Media
A public librarian from West Virginia has been taken into custody and charged with making terroristic threats after she allegedly used the social media platform TikTok to rally individuals towards the assassination of President Donald Trump. The arrest follows a swift investigation by local law enforcement authorities who traced the online content back to the suspect.
Alleged Social Media Recruitment for Violence
Morgan Morrow, a 39-year-old employee of the Jackson County Public Library, is accused of posting a video on TikTok that contained a direct call for violence against the President. According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, the post was explicitly labelled with text reading, 'Surely a [sniper] with a terminal illness can’t be a big ask out of 343 million.' Police investigators reviewed the content and its surrounding context, concluding that the statement constituted a clear and vile encouragement for the president’s assassination.
Jackson County Sheriff Ross Mellinger provided a stark warning about the consequences of such online behaviour, stating to local news outlets, 'When you saddle up on the horse of stupidity, you have to be prepared for the ride that follows.' The sheriff emphasised that the arrest was part of an active and troubling criminal investigation, not a political statement, and that threats of this nature on social media will not be tolerated by law enforcement.
Investigation and Arrest Details
Authorities discovered the threatening post on Sunday and successfully traced its origin to Morrow. Investigators later confronted the librarian at her residence in Ripley, West Virginia, where she was arrested and subsequently transported to the South Central Regional Jail. During an interview with police, Morrow allegedly confessed to writing and posting the statement on TikTok, claiming it was 'intended as a threat directed toward President Trump.'
Furthermore, the complaint indicates that Morrow revealed her personal reasons for wishing harm upon the President to the investigating officers, though specific details were not disclosed publicly. While the suspect allegedly admitted to creating the social media post, she claimed she had no intention of personally carrying out the threatened act. However, police countered this assertion, noting in the complaint that such statements could 'encourage, inspire, or entice others to carry out the threatened act, regardless of whether the speaker publicly intends to personally do so.'
Law Enforcement and Institutional Response
Sheriff Mellinger reiterated the seriousness with which his department is treating the case, telling reporters, 'We’re just trying to do our part in making sure that it’s not acted upon, and there’s no one that’s following her footsteps to try to carry out the plan.' He clarified the line between acceptable criticism and criminal incitement, stating, 'It’s okay to be critical of the government. It’s okay to be critical of things you don’t agree with. But when you start promoting the violence and you’re promoting a plan to carry out the violence and recruiting other people to carry out the plan for you, that’s clearly crossing the line.'
In response to the arrest, the Jackson County Public Library issued an official statement via social media, distancing the institution from Morrow’s alleged actions. The statement read, in part, 'The views expressed are made in an individual capacity and do not represent the position of the organization. We are addressing the matter internally in accordance to our established policies and procedures.' The library affirmed that the comments do not reflect its core values.
Morgan Morrow has been formally charged with one count of threats of terroristic acts as detailed in the criminal complaint. The case continues to develop as legal proceedings move forward.
