Maine man accused of making threat against President Trump, federal court documents say
On April 5, a Maine Department of Public Safety senior investigator was having lunch at a restaurant in Bridgton, Maine when Bell allegedly made the threat, according to an affidavit in support of the criminal complaint filed in federal court this week.
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The officer was sitting at the bar and noticed a person, later identified as Bell, looking through the windows of the officer's unmarked vehicle in the parking lot of the restaurant. When Bell came into the restaurant he allegedly struck up a conversation with the officer, the affidavit stated.
'At some point in the conversation, Bell made a threat to the President of the United States ('POTUS'), by stating, 'I wanted to shoot Bush but didn't, but now Trump is in and I don't care for him,' and then continuing to say either, 'I'll try to shoot him' or 'I'll just shoot him,'' the affidavit stated.
After making those comments, Bell said he needed 'to stop making comments about killing the President,' because he was going to get in trouble, according to the affidavit.
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'Bell continued to discuss his hatred for Former POTUS ('FPOTUS') George W. Bush but indicated he never acted on those thoughts,' the affidavit said.
Bell allegedly made other comments to the officer, including that he '... is able to take over a plane and crash it, hurting a lot more people,' the affadavit stated. 'Bell reiterated to the officer that he was surprised he is still able to fly and that the government still trusts him with a plane, stating he can fly undetected out of 'Eastern Slopes' to do anything he wants, 'like fly to DC.''
Eastern Slopes is a regional airport located in Fryeburg, Maine, according to the affidavit.
Police obtained a state warrant for Bell's arrest and he was arrested without incident later that day.
Following his arrest, Bell agreed to speak to special agents from the FBI and US Secret Service and he denied making any threats to the President during his conversation with the officer, the affidavit stated.
He also told them that in January 2025 he was fired from his job at a company based out of Kansas City, Missouri because of threats, the affidavit stated.
'Bell, a software engineer, indicated the threats were that he was going to put 'bugs in his code,' as well as leak information should he ever acquire a security clearance,' the affidavit stated.
The company Bell said he worked for 'is an aviation company that works with avionic displays, navigation and communication platforms, among other products, in the commercial, corporate, and defense markets,' the affidavit said.
Emily Sweeney can be reached at
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