A 41-year-old woman from Texas has been arrested in Washington, DC, for threatening former President Donald Trump, just days after an attempted assassination at a Pennsylvania rally. Christina Montoya, from San Antonio, was apprehended on Friday, August 2, following a tip-off from the Secret Service to local law enforcement.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department of DC (MPD), Montoya was found in northeastern DC around 12:12 p.m. Her arrest came after MPD received information about her, leading to the discovery of her vehicle in the First District. The subsequent investigation resulted in her arrest.
Montoya faces multiple charges, including Carrying a Pistol Without a License, Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, and Threats Against a Former President. Authorities have not disclosed the specific nature of the threats she made against Trump. The threats reportedly began on July 20, shortly after Thomas Matthew Crooks’s failed assassination attempt on the former president at a rally in Pennsylvania.
The police report indicated that Montoya was found with a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield pistol, a gun lock, and a magazine. Her vehicle, a Honda Accord, was located during the investigation, which led officers to her location in a residential area of the capital.
The arrest comes amid significant criticism of the Secret Service following the recent assassination attempt. Crooks, who managed to climb onto the roof of a building and shoot during the Pennsylvania rally, injured Trump and several others, and killed one attendee. The incident has led to widespread scrutiny of the Secret Service’s protective measures. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned under pressure, and the acting director, Ronald Rowe, expressed deep regret over the security lapses. Rowe admitted to lawmakers that the failure to secure the roof properly made him “ashamed,” acknowledging the inadequacy of the agency’s response to the situation.
As the investigation into Montoya’s threats continues, authorities are working to ensure the safety of public figures and address the ongoing concerns regarding security protocol.
