http://www.apbnews.com/newscenter/internetcrime/1999/11/05/prezthreat1105_01.html

Man Charged With Web Threat on President Canadian Learns It's Illegal to Even Joke Nov. 5, 1999

By David Noack

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (APBnews.com) -- A 23-year-old Canadian man, apparently angered to learn it was illegal to even joke about killing the U.S. president, is under arrest, charged with posting a threat to kill him on a Web site, Canadian authorities said.

Timothy G. Andrew, of 21 Evans Avenue, was picked up by authorities Wednesday and will be arraigned in Halifax Provincial Court Dec. 20. He was charged with "uttering death threats" via the Internet and released pending the court appearance.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) National Security Investigation's Section and the Halifax Regional Police began an investigation after they were contacted about the Web site by the U.S. Secret Service's office in Portland, Maine.

Computer, software seized

John O'Hara, a Secret Service spokesman in the Boston office, said that since Canadian officials arrested Andrew they would handle any prosecution of the case.

"All we did was support the issue because it was an individual residing in Canada. It was a Canadian statute that was violated. It was a Canadian Internet service provider. All we did was convey the information to the RCMP," said O'Hara. He said he could not reveal how the Secret Service learned of the Web site.

Sgt. Wayne Noonan, a spokesman for the RMPC, said that in addition to arresting Andrew, authorities also seized computer equipment and software. They are being examined for further evidence.

Andrew faces charges under Section 264 of the Criminal Code of Canada. He faces a possible prison sentence of 18 months to five years.

Noonan said the RCMP received the information from the Secret Service about the suspect Web site Oct. 27. A search warrant was issued Wednesday.

An online manifesto

In the five-page online manifesto, Andrew explains why he decided to post the presidential threat in the first place. The letter does not specifically mention or name President Bill Clinton. In bold letters, the Web site states: "I AM GOING TO KILL THE PRESIDENT."

"One day while talking to a friend of mine about some computer stuff, he asked me a question, he asked me what I did that day. Jokingly, I said I plotted to kill the president. His response was that it was considered a felony to make a direct threat on the life of the president," writes Andrew.

"I thought about it and gave him a lame reply but the idea stuck with me. I spent the rest of the day doing the usual thing, however something about his reply kept nagging at me. ... I began to ask myself questions, I mean, perhaps I'll end up in trouble for saying and thinking such things about the president, but why should I?" he continues.

'I feel compelled to shout aloud'

The rest of the online post is a diatribe about good vs. evil, dark vs. light, among other concerns.

Near the end of the cyberletter, Andrew states: "Thinking back to that day that I had the chat with my friend, I feel compelled to shout aloud, in all truth, and in full direct force towards the president of the United States himself, and each and every individual amongst his allies, 'WHAT YOU STAND FOR IS NOT RIGHT, I'M PLOTTING TO KILL YOU, AND I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!' It might be an un-truth, but I haven't lied to you yet."

The Web page containing the alleged threat was posted online via EastLink, a high-speed Internet service provider. The Web page has been removed from the ISP. However, it appears that a mirror site housing the cyberthreat was created on Xoom.com, a site that allows computer users to create their own home pages.

Andrew did not respond to e-mails for comment, and there was no answer at his apartment at press time. Halifax-based EastLink declined to comment on the case.

David Noack is an APBnews.com staff writer (david.noack@apbnews.com).

-- We are in (Trouble@paradise.com), November 06, 1999

Answers

May God have mercy on Bill Clinton.

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), November 06, 1999.

FWIW, I think I remember reading somewhere (and please don't hold me to this, because I can't give any references) that it was also against some federal law to foment a bank run. I don't think anyone here has actually DONE that, but some posts have surely come close enough to cause a raised eyebrow here and there. Again, I try to live by that rule that says not to post anything on ANY forum that you wouldn't want to see in tomorrow's New York Times, page A1, below the fold. (Luckily, I'm fairly shameless, so that still gives me a lot of leeway...)

-- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), November 06, 1999.

Now that the words and phrase are printed in bold on this forum, we stand to attract Clinton's SS attention, on top of CIA/FBI.

-- (InTrouble@indeed.com), November 06, 1999.

International thought police , kinda funny , but everything is ok go back to sleep.

MONGO

-- mongo (mongo2@prodigy.net), November 06, 1999.

From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr (pic), near Monterey, California

He said he could not reveal how the Secret Service learned of the Web site.

Can you say Echelon?

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), November 06, 1999.

If this guy was serious, I'd have to take steps to stop him myself. I'm no lover of Clinton but for goodness sake, look at what replaces him.......even if Gore were to go down too. I'll stick with WJC. At least we know what a sleeze HE is. The others just haven't surfaced yet.

-- Lobo (atthelair@yahoo.com), November 07, 1999.

-- CD (not@here.com), November 07, 1999.

We're all equal, but some are more equal than others.
Paraphrase of a snippet from "Animal Farm" by George Orwell.

-- A (A@AisA.com), November 07, 1999.

Of course there is no prohibition against speech. Just free speech silly animals. Remember the hoof and the horn.

-- rc white (cw5410@netscape.net), November 07, 1999.

Wow Dancr, nice photo...will you marry me?

-- Uncle Bob (UNCLB0B@Tminus54&counting.down), November 07, 1999.

Hey it looks like they've got a new slogan, CD. It used to be 'In God we trust. All others we monitor.'

-- a (a@a.a), November 07, 1999.

Do you suppose it is also a crime to run a corrupt state prison system and sell HIV-infected blood from convict donors to Canada?

-- coprolith (nowhere@anywhere.com), November 08, 1999.

Actually, you can be arrested for calling up your ex and threatening to kill him/her.

-- Amy Leone (leoneamy@aol.com), November 08, 1999.