A federal magistrate in Alexandria ordered that 33-year-old Scott Allen Bolger be held in pretrial detention after he was charged with threatening Richard Grenell and making false statements to federal officers. Prosecutors say phone records linked threatening messages sent via Google Voice to Bolger, who allegedly gave a false name when agents questioned him. The Justice Department described the detention as an uncommon but important prosecutorial win; if convicted, Bolger faces up to five years in prison. Grenell's victim statement, read in court, warned that violent rhetoric must be taken seriously.
U.S. Magistrate Orders Pretrial Detention For Man Accused Of Threatening Richard Grenell
US judge orders suspect detained for threatening to kill Richard Grenell
A federal magistrate in Alexandria, Virginia, ordered the pretrial detention of 33-year-old Scott Allen Bolger after he was charged with threatening to kill Richard Grenell and with making false statements to federal officers, the Justice Department said.
Bolger was arraigned Tuesday in federal court in Alexandria on counts that include transmitting threats in interstate commerce and making false statements to federal officers. Prosecutors say phone and telecommunications records tied the threatening messages to Bolger.
Ambassador Richard Grenell, Kennedy Center president, speaks at the 48th Kennedy Center Honors Medallion Reception at the U.S. Department of State on Dec. 6, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
How the threats were sent
According to court filings, Bolger used Google Voice — a service that lets users call and text numbers not linked to their primary devices — to send messages that allegedly threatened Grenell, a former U.S. ambassador to Germany and a political ally of President Donald Trump. The Justice Department identified Grenell to the press as the targeted federal employee.
False identity at questioning
Authorities also allege that when a federal task force visited Bolger's residence in McLean, Virginia, he gave a false name, identifying himself as "Brian Black." That allegation is one of the charges filed against him.
Former Acting Director of National Intelligence of the U.S. Richard Grenell, Sen. Mike Lee, former President Trump, and Glenn Beck participate in a private roundtable discussion on Oct. 13, 2024, in Prescott Valley, Arizona.
U.S. Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick issued the detention order. Justice Department officials told reporters that securing pretrial detention is relatively uncommon and described the magistrate's decision as a significant prosecutorial win. Acting U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan attended the arraignment but did not play a formal role in the proceedings.
"In my current role as a presidential envoy, I have been attacked and harassed by people who don't know me and who simply want to leave nasty, rude and angry messages because I don't share their political viewpoint," Grenell said in a victim statement read in court. He added that recent incidents of political violence underscore the need to take threats seriously.
If convicted on the federal counts, Bolger faces up to five years in prison. The case comes amid heightened public concern about threats and intimidation aimed at public figures across the executive, legislative and judicial branches.
This story is developing and may be updated as new information becomes available.
