CONCORD, N.H. — A judge on Thursday released a New Hampshire man accused of sending text messages threatening to kill a presidential candidate.
Tyler Anderson, 30, of Dover, was arrested Saturday and charged with communicating a threat by interstate commerce. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Thursday.
A federal prosecutor argued in favor of keeping Anderson in custody pending trial, saying “very violent, concerning language” was used. But both the prosecution and defense said Anderson acknowledged he had no intention of performing his lines.
Anderson also has no criminal record.
The judge imposed several conditions on his release, including that he avoid contact with presidential candidates and their political campaigns. Anderson, who is receiving mental health treatment, must also take all his prescribed medications. Weapons in his home that belong to a roommate must be removed.
The U.S. Attorney's Office did not name the candidate. However, a spokesperson for Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said on Monday that the texts were directed against his campaign.
According to court documents, Anderson received a text message from the candidate's campaign notifying him of a breakfast event in Portsmouth on Monday. According to an FBI agent's statement, campaign staff received two text messages in response. One threatened to shoot the candidate in the head, the other threatened to kill everyone at the event and desecrate their bodies.