Carl Howard Payne Jr., a 58-year-old resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado, faces federal charges for allegedly sending death threats to President Donald Trump, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and Tesla owners across the United States.
Payne is accused of sending emails titled “Declaration of War,” which included plans to harm Musk, Trump, and others. These threats targeted government officials and the public and were sent to media organizations as early as March 2025.
According to federal prosecutors, Payne allegedly wrote in a March 20 email, “We have declared war on the 47th Presidential Cabinet of the United States of America and are sharing details of Our first Operation.”
Prosecutors allege that Payne’s threats were conveyed through both email and physical letters, in which he claimed responsibility for potential attacks. Court documents reveal that Payne wrote, “We will continue this Operation until Elon Musk’s death,” and stated that Musk “is no longer welcome to be alive.” The emails, traced to a Proton Mail account, were linked to Payne using IP address data and other evidence.
The emails were sent to the New York offices of ProPublica, Thomson Reuters, and other media outlets across several states. Thomson Reuters, headquartered in Toronto, Canada, is a global media and information company known for its Reuters News division, which provides news in print, broadcast, and online formats.
The threats described attacks occurring “at their homes, on the road, while shopping, or at Nazi charging stations,” a term Payne allegedly used for Tesla charging stations. His writings mentioned the use of guns and guitar strings as weapons and referenced violent figures like Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.
Authorities report that Payne was planning a broader effort called “Operation: Swasticar,” targeting Tesla owners and Musk. In a section labeled “Advice,” Payne allegedly warned areas with many Teslas to prepare for electric vehicle fires and toxic smoke, suggesting the presence of HAZMAT teams. He also criticized media outlets for not holding government officials accountable, citing this as justification for his threats. He referenced a recent case involving Luigi Mangione, charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, using it to rationalize his threats.
Federal agents apprehended Payne after tracking his online activities. His internet history included searches regarding Timothy McVeigh and weapons. During a search of Payne’s home, law enforcement found three firearms, including a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson pistol mentioned in his emails.
Alongside emails, Payne is accused of attempting to send similar threats via postal mail to insurance companies, falsely listing the return address as “The White House.” The letters were postmarked from Denver, and investigators linked these to him using postal data and surveillance.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado has charged Payne with interstate communication of threats, a charge that could lead to up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release. Payne, who has a background in technology management, has no significant criminal history aside from a past citation for an expired vehicle registration. When questioned by the FBI, Payne denied sending the threatening communications.
Payne appeared in federal court in Denver, Colorado, on April 22 for a detention hearing. The FBI’s Denver Field Office is handling the ongoing investigation.
Documents also show Payne’s threats were linked to April 17, 2025, marked as the start of his intended actions. Federal prosecutors included this timeline in the charges, highlighting his reference to “newsworthy killings” beginning on that date.
Officials are examining Payne’s connections to various online communities and digital platforms where similar rhetoric might have been shared. Currently, there is no evidence of additional individuals involved, and Payne is believed to have acted alone.
