A federal grand jury indicted Rene Ortiz, 56, of Casa Grande, Arizona, on charges arising from written death threats he directed at then-presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris during the 2024 election cycle [1]. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona brought three counts: two counts of making threats against successors to the presidency and one count of threats against a former president [1][2]. The case proceeded to trial before U.S. District Judge Stephen M. McNamee in Phoenix.
On June 8, 2026, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all three counts [1][2]. Ortiz was convicted of delivering written communications threatening to kill both Trump and Harris, conduct federal law addresses through separate statutory provisions depending on a target's current or former status [1]. No acquittals or hung counts were reported [1].
Sentencing is scheduled for September 1, 2026, before Judge McNamee [1]. Federal threat statutes carry substantial custodial exposure, and the government will present sentencing materials in advance of that hearing. Defense counsel has not publicly announced post-trial motions or a notice of appeal as of the date of this brief.
The prosecution reflects continued federal enforcement priority around written threats targeting senior officials made during the 2024 campaign period [1][2]. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona was represented at trial by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Chang and Abbie Broughton [1].
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