Raymond Eugene Chandler III (Credit: chandlerforsenate.com)
A Pennsylvania man who recently launched a campaign for U.S. Senate is accused of leaving a series of violent voicemails threatening President Donald Trump and a member of Congress’s family, according to unsealed federal court documents on Friday, May 1.
Raymond Eugene Chandler III, of Wilkinsburg, was arrested and charged after a federal investigation into repeated threats made over voicemail, authorities said.
Chandler is charged with influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official by threatening a family member and by threat, according to the affidavit.
The criminal complaint, unsealed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, alleges Chandler left multiple messages targeting an unnamed member of Congress and President Trump between April 2025 and April 2026.
In one voicemail on April 18, 2026, Chandler allegedly described a graphic scenario in which the congressman and his daughter would be attacked, saying they would be “pull[ed]… out of your house” and have their “throat… slit,” according to the affidavit.
Days later, on April 29, 2026, Chandler allegedly left another message urging the lawmaker to assassinate President Trump, telling them to “walk into the Oval Office with a gun in your hand… put it to the President’s head… and… pull the trigger,” the affidavit states.
Authorities said the calls were part of a broader pattern of escalating rhetoric. The affidavit outlines additional messages in which Chandler allegedly voiced support for armed resistance against federal agents, discussed building gallows for the congressman, and claimed he had purchased weapons out of fear of the government.
Due to the nature of the threats, increased security measures were implemented for federal officials and their families, investigators noted.
Chandler made an initial appearance in federal court in Pittsburgh on Friday, where he was advised of the charges. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, May 8.
According to federal authorities, Chandler had been leaving voicemails for the congressional office for approximately a year, identifying himself by name and address during the calls.
Hours before his arrest, Chandler posted a YouTube video as part of his campaign for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania. In the video, titled “It’s time to tax the billionaires,” he said he planned to challenge Sen. John Fetterman in 2028 and outlined a platform focused on wealth redistribution and economic reform.
Hey friends, I’m Raymond and I’m running for U.S. Senate to replace John Fetterman in 2028. In this video I expose the realities of the wealth inequality problem in the United States.
Raymond Chandler III for U.S. Senate-PA in 2028!
In his YouTube channel description, Chandler described himself as a first-generation college graduate from a working-class family and said he supports policies such as a wealth tax, universal healthcare, universal basic income, and the abolition of ICE.
His campaign website, chandlerforsenate.com, lists priorities including taxing billionaires, expanding social programs, regulating Big Tech, and “ending cruelty in government.”
An online fundraising page tied to his campaign on ActBlue was no longer active as of Friday, returning a 404 error. (Read more: AOL, 5/2/2026) (Archive)
More on the voicemail threats:
(…) Authorities say that Chandler left a second message to the congressman, saying: “You’ve probably getting quite used to my voice. Sir, I’m calling this evening because what I want you to do is I want you to take a firearm. I want you to put it in your hand. I want you to walk into the Oval Office. I want you to put that firearm to the President’s head, and I want you to pull the trigger and I want you to kill him.”
“He’s a liar among all liars,” Chandler continued. “He’s a great deceiver. He’s the antichrist. I want you to walk into the Oval Office with a gun in your hand. I want you to put it to his temple, and I want you to pull the trigger.”
“I want you to kill the President,” Chandler added. “I want you to assassinate the President.”
While court documents do not name the elected official Chandler allegedly called, Chandler does refer to the individual as “Senator” and as well as his representative. Chandler’s campaign website denotes that he is running against Sen. John Fetterman and contains an open letter to Republican Sen. David McCormick where he states: “Is your wealth really worth the deaths of millions of people, that will result from your hoarding of it? I am telling you, the next shock to the system will result in violent revolution – of which you cannot be saved from. I’m not threatening it. I hope to God it doesn’t come, that is why I am developing this plan now, so we can prevent it from coming.”
Chandler’s website does not indicate party affiliation itself, but does contain a link to ActBlue, the platform used for fundraising by the Democrat Party. The link has been disabled at this time. (Read more: TownHall, 5/3/2026)