Derek Lopez, a former Illinois State University teaching assistant previously fired for overturning a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) table, has been arrested again, this time on federal charges of threatening former President Donald Trump. The arrest, a coordinated effort between the FBI, Secret Service, and Illinois State University Police Department, followed a month-long investigation into Lopez’s online and in-person activities. According to the FBI, Lopez allegedly made direct threats against the former president, prompting the federal charges.
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the severity of the alleged threats, stating they “have no place in American society” and affirming the FBI’s commitment to pursuing those who make violent threats against public officials or any American citizen. This arrest highlights the increasing focus on monitoring and addressing threats made against political figures, particularly in the current climate of heightened political polarization and online extremism.