On Saturday, December 9, 2023, a 30-year-old resident of Dover, New Hampshire, was arrested following threats made against Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican presidential candidate. The arrest was the culmination of an investigation involving the FBI, sparked by alarming text messages sent to Ramaswamy’s campaign.
Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur and author, entered the presidential race in 2023, advocating for nationalist and America First positions. His campaign has been marked by a strong anti-woke stance and opposition to environmental, social, and governance initiatives.
The threats came to light when Tyler Anderson, responded aggressively to a text message from Ramaswamy’s campaign, promoting a rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The texts, containing explicit threats to “blow brains out” and “kill everyone who attends,” were sent in response to an automated campaign message inviting Anderson to the event. Alarmed by the nature of these messages, a staff member of Ramaswamy’s campaign alerted authorities.
During the investigation, law enforcement officers traced the threatening messages to Anderson’s phone and residence, where firearms were also discovered. In a police interview, Anderson confessed to sending the texts. He was arrested and charged with transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure another person.
Anderson’s actions have been met with a stern response from the legal community. Jane Young, the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire, emphasized that there is “zero tolerance for anyone who commits a federal crime in New Hampshire on my watch.” If convicted, Anderson faces up to five years in prison.
Ramaswamy expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their efforts in ensuring his safety, particularly highlighting the role of retired New Hampshire officers in his campaign security. He emphasized his confidence in his security team and his prayers for the safety of all Americans involved in the political process.
This incident is not an isolated case. The criminal complaint against Anderson revealed other text messages sent to unnamed political candidates, threatening mass shootings.
Anderson appeared in federal court in Concord, New Hampshire. He will remain in custody until a detention hearing scheduled for December 14.
