A Chicago man has been charged with making threats against the United States Secret Service, according to an announcement on April 9 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois.
The case concerns public safety and underscores law enforcement’s response to threats against federal officials. The authorities said such actions are treated as serious crimes under federal law.
According to a criminal complaint unsealed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, Michael Kovco allegedly sent an electronic message via the official White House website on March 19, 2026, threatening to “hunt” a Secret Service agent and “shoot up” their place of work if given identifying information. This message was reportedly sent two hours after agents visited his residence regarding a previous threat made on March 17, which targeted President Donald J. Trump and one of his sons.
Kovco, age 29, is charged with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. He was arrested on April 3, and a detention hearing is scheduled for April 10 in federal court in Chicago. The government intends to seek his continued detention pending trial.
United States Attorney Andrew S. Boutros said, “As I have stated repeatedly during my first year as United States Attorney, it is never acceptable to threaten a law enforcement officer, political figure, or a member of their family.” Boutros added: “Under my watch, political violence will be dealt with as the serious federal crime that it is. Working closely with our federal and state law enforcement partners, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will find, arrest, and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those responsible for criminally threatening the safety of our public officials and law enforcement officers.”
Dai Tran, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Chicago Field Office said: “The U.S. Secret Service’s top priority is safeguarding the President of the United States and all those we protect… We take any threats seriously and aggressively pursue them to ensure our protectees’ safety… I want to thank our partners at the Chicago Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Illinois for their help in pursuing this case.”
Authorities remind that charges are not evidence of guilt; Kovco remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt at trial.
