An Ohio man has been charged with sending graphic death threats to Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) and President Donald Trump, federal authorities announced on Tuesday. Alex Justin Miller, 26, of Columbus, Ohio, was arrested and faces one count of interstate transmission of a threat to injure, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison if convicted.
The threats were sent via email on August 18, the day of Florida’s primary elections. Fine, who is Jewish, confirmed he was the intended recipient after the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the charges without naming him. The email contained violent language, including threats to burn Fine’s home down, murder his family, and behead him, with the subject line reading: “Can’t wait to snipe your head off your shoulders!!)”
Miller also directed threats at President Trump, according to the DOJ. The FBI, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Secret Service, and Capitol Police jointly investigated the case.
Threat’s contents revealed
The full text of the email, as described in court documents and reported by multiple outlets, included:
- “I cannot wait to take a trip to [your] lovely home and light the whole place on fire and murder you and your entire family in the middle of the night while you sleep.”
- “I hope you disgusting Nazi f*s sleep with one eye open for the rest of your life because I will NEVER stop until your head is hanging from the rooftops of the White House.”
- “You deserve 10000% to be beheaded and have your body paraded through the streets.”
- “DEATH TO RANDY FINE AND DEATH TO DONALD TRUMP!!”
Fine, who has previously received death threats, stated the message was so graphic that he reported it immediately. He noted that the threat arrived on Election Day at 9:02 a.m., just hours after he had won his primary. Fine represents Florida’s 6th Congressional District and is advancing to the general election.
Legal and political context
Miller was charged under federal law for interstate transmission of a threat to injure. The DOJ did not initially identify Fine as the recipient but confirmed his identity after he disclosed it on social media. The case has drawn attention due to the nonconstituent nature of the threat, as Miller is not from Florida.
The incident follows a pattern of heightened security concerns for public officials, particularly those who have faced repeated threats. Fine has previously highlighted the frequency of such threats against him, stating in a social media post: “There are three people who have been arrested and prosecuted for making death threats against me in the past 10 years.”
Federal authorities have not provided additional details about Miller’s motives or potential connections to extremist groups. The investigation remains ongoing.