Threatening the President of the United States

Threatening the president of the United States is a federal felony under 18 U.S.C. Section 871, consisting of knowingly and willfully mailing or otherwise making any threat to take the life of, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm on the president. The same protection extends to presidential candidates, vice presidents, and former presidents. The United States Secret Service investigates suspected violations and monitors people with a history of threatening the president; the offense is treated as a political crime, and an immigrant convicted of it can be deported.