Miami man, 47, pleads guilty to posting threats to execute Secretary of State Marco Rubio at ‘specific times’
A Miami man pleaded guilty to three counts of transmitting threats across state lines after posting several messages on X targeting federal officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Jon Christopher Enriquez made three separate posts threatening Rubio on May 27. The posts included times he claimed the secretary of state would be executed.
The threats
In one post, Enriquez wrote, “Secretary Rubio, I guess the only way that you are going to shut your mouth is through DEATH.”
The 47-year-old also threatened Kristi Noem, writing that both she and Rubio would be “executed at 16:00.”
In another post, he claimed the two had been found guilty of “seditious conspiracy,” writing, “Rubio, Noem… You have been found guilty of 18 USC Section 2384: Seditious Conspiracy. Both of you will be executed at 16:30. Best wishes to your future endeavors.”
‘Those who attempt to terrorize public servants will be held accountable’
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Jason A. Reding Quiñones said the threats crossed the line into criminal territory.
“Threatening to execute public officials is not political speech, it is a federal crime. Enriquez used a public platform to issue repeated, specific threats against Secretary Rubio and Special Envoy Noem,” he said.
“Today’s guilty plea makes clear that those who attempt to terrorize public servants or intimidate them through threats of violence will be swiftly identified, prosecuted and held accountable,” he added.
‘A serious federal offense’
Nicholas Collura, director of the Diplomatic Security Service and principal deputy assistant secretary for diplomatic security, echoed those concerns.
He emphasized that threats against senior officials are no joke. “Threatening a secretary of state or any senior State Department official is a serious federal offense,” Collura said.
“Protecting the people who serve this country is our highest priority, and we will not hesitate to act against anyone who threatens their safety,” he added.
What comes next
Enriquez’s guilty plea could land him up to five years in prison on each count.
A federal judge will decide the sentence after taking the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors into account.
The Bureau of Diplomatic Security led the investigation into Enriquez, according to the State Department.
Several other agencies helped, including NCIS, Florida law enforcement, Miami police and the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.