Federal Judge Refuses to Toss Indictment Over Synagogue Threat Post

In a decision by Judge Virginia Kendall, the court rejected Timothy Holmes' request to throw out his indictment for transmitting a threat to injure another person via interstate communications. The indictment, returned by a grand jury on April 7, 2026, charges Holmes with violating 18 U.S.C. § 875(c) after he posted, “I’m going to shoot up a synagogue,” in response to a State of Israel tweet. Holmes contended the remark lacked specificity and was protected political hyperbole, but the judge ruled those defenses pertain to the substantive merits, not to whether the indictment is legally sufficient.

The complaint also references Holmes' earlier anti-Jewish statements on his X account. Consequently, the prosecution will move forward toward trial.