Georgia Man Arrested After Allegedly Threatening Hegseth Family and Demanding He Attack Chabad Synagogue
by CrownHeights.info
A Georgia man has been arrested and federally charged after allegedly making a disturbing online threat demanding that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attack a Chabad synagogue and kill Jews, or face the murder of his family.
According to a federal criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Jonathan Mark Susor allegedly posted the threat on X, formerly Twitter, on July 28.
The post allegedly directed Hegseth to “clear out a Chabad synagogue with the service rifle,” while threatening that Hegseth’s family would be harmed if he did not comply. Investigators say the account had also previously posted other threats against Hegseth and his family, including photographs of Hegseth and his children.
The particularly disturbing reference to a Chabad synagogue has drawn attention within the Chabad-Lubavitch community, as Chabad Houses and shuls across the United States serve as highly visible centers of Jewish life,.
Susor was arrested by the Alpharetta Police Department on September 25. He faces a federal charge of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, as well as several state charges, including terroristic threats, stalking and harassing communications. He reportedly remains held on a $10,000 bond.
The investigation was aided by the Secure Community Network (SCN), which identified the threatening posts and immediately notified Jewish community security officials and law enforcement. SCN and the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta issued a security alert to Jewish institutions in the area while the threat was investigated.
Following an assessment by the Federation, SCN and law enforcement, officials determined that there was no credible ongoing threat to the Jewish community connected to the incident. Nevertheless, Jewish institutions were urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.
The arrest comes amid heightened concern over antisemitic threats against Jewish institutions across the United States. Federal prosecutors in Georgia have recently pursued several cases involving alleged online and telephone threats against Jews and Jewish organizations.
For the Chabad community, the case serves as another reminder of the importance of maintaining appropriate security at Chabad Houses, shuls, schools and community events, while continuing to ensure that these institutions remain welcoming centers of Jewish life.