Overview

• Samuel Theodore Cain, a 19-year-old trans-identifying activist, was arrested by South Carolina authorities on May 15 for threatening to assassinate Rep. Nancy Mace on social media.
• Cain allegedly posted on April 26, stating, 'I’m going to assassinate Representative Nancy Mace with a gun and I’m being 100% dead ass.'
• The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute the case federally, transferring it to the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office for state-level charges.
• Cain has been charged with threatening the life of a public official, a crime punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
• Rep. Mace, who has received death threats for months over her legislative efforts on transgender issues, continues to call for accountability and reforms to address online threats.