An Alabama man has been formally charged in court after federal prosecutors alleged he traveled to Atlanta with the intent of assassinating President Joe Biden during a high-profile CNN presidential debate.
Interstate Stalking and Firearm Charges
Adam Benjamin Hall, a 23-year-old from Alabama, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with interstate stalking. According to court documents, the charges were formally filed on January 26, 2026. Prosecutors assert that Hall drove from Alabama to Atlanta on June 27, 2024, the very day the televised debate between President Biden and then-Republican candidate Donald Trump was scheduled to take place.
Alleged Plot to Infiltrate Debate Venue
The criminal complaint details a chilling plan. Hall allegedly intended to sneak into the heavily secured debate venue and carry out an assassination. Supporting this claim, prosecutors presented GPS data from Hall's mobile phone that allegedly placed him just three blocks from the debate location approximately thirty minutes before the event was due to commence.
"Hall’s alleged actions went beyond mere words and included traveling to Georgia with a firearm to murder President Biden," stated U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg in an official press release. "Political violence is never acceptable and must be countered by swift intervention and meaningful consequences."
Digital Evidence and Radical Writings
Investigators uncovered further evidence on Hall's electronic devices. Prosecutors revealed he had composed what he termed an "expose" on his phone. The document was addressed to Palestinian journalists and dedicated to those who had lost their lives.
The writings blended pro-Palestinian sentiment with anti-government conspiracy theories and calls for violent insurrection. One section warned that "our enemies are not in any other country but our own and Israel's," while explicitly calling for the overthrow of the Israeli government.
Detailed Plans for July 4th Insurrection
The note allegedly outlined a plan for supporters to march on Washington, D.C., during the week of July 4th. It urged readers to "forget your barbecues and pool parties" and instead, armed with whatever they had, march on Capitol Hill, the White House, and the Supreme Court.
The document provided specific instructions, stating: "Unless the feds shoot first, you must not engage. If they are unwilling to comply after a few hours, then I permit you to march into those buildings and do what is necessary to regain control of our country from the deep state."
Ongoing Federal Investigation
The U.S. Secret Service is leading the investigation into the alleged assassination attempt. A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia confirmed that Hall was in possession of a firearm when he traveled to Georgia. The investigation remains active, with the possibility of additional charges being filed.
Authorities have emphasised the gravity of the situation. "Threats against the President are gravely serious and must be treated as such," U.S. Attorney Hertzberg reiterated. Questions remain regarding the timeline of the investigation, including why the arrest occurred over eighteen months after the alleged events and how the plot was initially uncovered.
