US Attorney: Tennessee man had Molotov, threatened to firebomb US Courthouse in Nashville
A Brentwood man is facing federal charges after authorities say he threatened to firebomb the Fred D. Thompson Federal Building in downtown Nashville.
Alexander Thompson, 35, is charged with making threats in interstate commerce and making a threat in interstate commerce to damage or destroy a building or property by means of fire or an explosive.
If convicted, Thompson faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison. The FBI Nashville field office is investigating the case.
'We take dangerous threats to public spaces and public servants extremely seriously and will always act swiftly to hold those responsible accountable for their actions,' Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire said in a Wednesday press release. 'People who work in courthouses, and citizens who attend proceedings there, should be free from threatening behavior.'
The release said Metro Nashville Police received a tip from someone at Tucker Carlson Network saying the network had gotten an email from Thompson containing threats he would "firebomb the Fred D. Thompson Federal building and Courthouse in downtown Nashville."
Thompson wrote in the email that he did not wish to shoot or kill law enforcement and was rational and non-suicidal, authorities said.
"But, the current American Government is no longer lawful and legitimate and must therefore be exposed and overthrown pursuant to Founding documents of the United States," Thompson wrote in the email.
Thompson claimed there is surveillance on every device in the country and he believed it was his duty to stop "horrendous physical and digital attacks against myself, but also inform my nation that it is on the brink of totalitarianism," authorities noted.
The streaming network shared images believed to be social media posts by Thompson Sunday asking followers how many firebombs he should use against the federal courthouse in Nashville.
Thompson was arrested Monday while he was working in Goodlettsville.
At the time, Thompson told officers, "You read the email, I was going to bomb the building, I couldn't change the system from the outside and I need to be arrested to effect change from the inside," authorities said.
A search of Thompson's home revealed several bomb making materials and other criminal evidence, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Investigators also found several empty jars, and wicks and wax consistent with items depicted in Thompson's social media posts.
"Investigators also located a Molotov cocktail that was assembled and just missing a fuel source," the release from the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on X @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: US Attorney: Tennessee man had Molotov, threatened to bomb courthouse
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