EVERETT—A transgender individual legally known as Phillip Richard Wharton, who prefers the name Ms. Sadie Wharton, faces federal charges for allegedly threatening to kill President Donald J. Trump in social media posts.
Wharton, 20, of Everett, was indicted on February 25, charges of threatening a federal official under 18 U.S.C. § 115(a)(1)(B) which carries a potential penalty of a $250,000 fine and/or imprisonment for up to 10 years. The case stems from social media posts in August and September 2025, court documents obtained and reviewed by the Lynnwood Times.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington is prosecuting the case which is in pretrial proceedings before U.S. District Judge James L. Robart. Attorney Adriane Manigo of the Federal Public Defender’s Office is representing Wharton and notified the court of Wharton’s preferred name “Sadie” and pronouns “Ms. or Mx. Wharton.”
The case began on or about August 19, 2025, when Wharton allegedly posted on social media threatening to kill President Trump with “intent to impede, intimidate and interfere” with his official duties. A second threat to President Trump followed on or about September 23, 2025, allegedly by Wharton.
The United States Capitol Police (USCP), notified the United States Secret Service (USSS) that X user “saydieonline” posted the following: “What the guy in the White House sees after I kill the US PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN AND WEAR HIS FACE AS A MASK.”
Agents with the USSS subsequently reviewed the user’s account and located “additional posts of concern.”
On August 11, 2025, at 6:38 a.m. EDT, Wharton allegedly posted the following: “real punks can agree with me on this one. Elon musk and trump are easy targets ??? ((suicide).”
On August 19, 2025, at 2:26 a.m. EDT, the user posted, “WHEN I TWEET THAT ILL ASSASSINATE THE US PRESIDENT THEY DELETE IT.”
The USSS found additional social media accounts associated with Wharton and was able to locate the post origin as Washington state. On of the Whartons accounts contained several drawings of individuals with weapons.
Investigators utilized law enforcement databases to positively identify Wharton based upon personal identifiers.
On September 8, 2025, federal agents attempted to contact Wharton at his Everett address. Through a phone conversation, Wharton agreed to meet federal agents at Twin Foxes in Everett.
Wharton confirmed that he made the posts threating President Trump and that the social media accounts werein fact his. Wharton shared with U.S. Secret Service agents that “he made the posts because he felt angry about his belief that President Trump had been involved with sex trafficking two 14-year-olds and made reference to Trump’s involvement with Jeffrey Epstein.”
The two agents informed Wharton of the consequences of threatening the President of the United States to which he agreed “to stop making threats.”
However, on September 23, 2025, approximately two weeks after his meeting and agreement with the U.S. Secret Service, Wharton posted to his Instagram account, “My name is Sadie Online. I am going to kill the president tomorrow. This is not a joke, but a confession admissible in a court of law”.
On October 8, 2025, further review of Wharton’s social media accounts by federal agents depicts images of Wharton holding an object resembling a firearm, with the most recent photo posted on September 27, 2025. Another post from September 3, 2025, contained an image of Lady Justice decapitating a pig with the word “ICE” written on the pig’s head.
A criminal complaint was filed November 7, 2025, charging Wharton with two counts of threatening a federal official—President Trump. An arrest warrant was issued that same day by U.S. Magistrate Judge Michelle L. Peterson; Wharton was arrested February 10, 2026, in Seattle.
At an initial appearance and detention hearing on February 10, Peterson released Wharton on pretrial conditions, including appearance bond requirements. Those conditions mandated court appearances, no law violations, DNA testing, no use of controlled substances without prescription, address reporting, travel restrictions to the Western District of Washington, victim and witness protection, and pretrial supervision.
Additional special conditions included surrendering passports and travel documents by February 17; maintaining residence as directed; undergoing mental health evaluation and treatment; contributing to costs of services; and no direct or indirect contact with President Trump.
On February 19, Wharton filed a motion to modify the conditions of release, specifically challenging the no-contact provision with the president.
“’Most Americans say country is on the wrong track,’ according to news headlines that surprise nobody,” the motion read. “Americans blame the President for the economy and inflation, and they are concerned about expansion of presidential power…. Iowa-based artist Taylor, who sells custom mugs online, went viral with a video on Instagram ‘saying that if anyone watching supported ICE, voted for Donald Trump, or didn’t think that trans people deserve to live happy and healthy lives, ‘I don’t need your money. Maybe if you stop supporting fascism, I’ll make you a mug or something one day.’’”
The Assistant United States Attorney responded to Wharton’s motion on February 26, opposing the pre-trail condition modification stating: “On its face, the condition at issue prohibits Wharton from contacting one person – the President. Yet Wharton contorts the condition into arguing that it prohibits him from speaking to or petitioning the [entire] executive branch, speaking to or petitioning the [entire] government; and attend[ing] protests, speak[ing] out on social media, or sign[ing] petitions about the issues they care about, claiming that Wharton is the “[o]ne American . . . prohibited from doing any of that.”
The DOJ attests that Wharton can attend a lawful protest, express views protected by the First Amendment over social media, and “speak to” and “petition” members of the executive branch and the government. The DOJ further called Whartons motion “silly” and “exaggerated.”
A date on the removal of the pre-trail no-contact restriction is set for March 3.
Author: Mario Lotmore
