A Roswell man is facing federal indictment charges after allegedly threatening to physically harm FBI Director Christopher Wray, an announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia revealed. John Woodbury, 34, stands accused of posting a violent message on the website 4chan.org, targeting not only Wray but others as well, with his threatening remarks on June 7, 2023, according to the official release.
The indictment, which was handed down by a federal grand jury on July 9 and led to Woodbury’s arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Catherine M. Salinas, included disturbing content within the threatening post, with quotes Woodbury said such as "Let’s show them what a [expletive] ‘Nazi’ […] looks like […]. It’s time to burn these [expletive] down and hang them from trees. Hit them where it [expletive] hurts. Hit Chris at his home. Make his family fear stepping one foot outside their [expletive] door.”
Underlining the gravity of the situation, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan stressed the criminal nature of Woodbury's actions, "Sending threats to physically harm a public official in an attempt to thwart the administration of justice is a criminal offense," and noting the dedication of law enforcement figures like Wray who "work tirelessly to safeguard our freedoms and to protect our citizens from harm", this according to a statement obtained from the Department of Justice's website. Buchanan vowed that his office would stand firm in defending public officials from fear or intimidation so that they may perform their duties securely.
The FBI is conducting the investigation into the threats made by Woodbury while Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew S. Carrico and Jennifer Keen lead the prosecution, it’s important for the public to remember that the charges within an indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty, this information was relayed by the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office which further inquiries can be directed to via their email, or their office’s website which provides additional details about the case and ongoing efforts to maintain justice.
