Trump supporter Craig Robertson's family breaks silence

May 2024 · 4 minute read

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The family of the Utah father who was shot dead in an FBI raid over threats to assassinate President Biden have broken their silence, insisting the self-described “MAGA Trumper” was exercising his First Amendment rights online.

Craig Robertson, 75, was killed when special agents tried to serve him with an arrest warrant at his Provo home early Wednesday, just days after he’d posted on Facebook he planned to dust off his sniper rifle ahead of Biden’s visit to the state, the feds said.

His relatives said Robertson — who they described as a “firearm enthusiast, collector and gunsmith” — loved the US “with all his heart” but had become increasingly disappointed by the Biden administration.

“He was understandably frustrated and distraught by the present and on-going erosions to our constitutionally protected freedoms and the rights of free citizens wrought by what he, and many others in this nation, observed to be a corrupt and overreaching government,” the statement said.

“As an elderly — and largely homebound — man, there was very little he could do but exercise his First Amendment right to free speech and voice his protest in what has become the public square of our age — the internet and social media.

Craig Robertson, 75, was shot by FBI agents during a raid on his Utah home after he allegedly threatened to assassinate President Biden during his visit to the state Wednesday. Craig Robertson/Facebook

“Though his statements were intemperate at times, he has never, and would never, commit any act of violence against another human being over a political or philosophical disagreement.”

The family described the raid as a “senseless and tragic killing” and said Robertson, who was 300lbs and largely homebound, as a “kind and generous person” who was active in his local church congregation.

It comes after neighbors recalled Robertson as a “decent guy” who had cared for his blind son who was in his 50s.

They described him as a frail and elderly man and said he walked with the aid of a hand-carved stick.

Though he regularly carried guns, they said he didn’t appear to be a threat.

Robertson allegedly threatened to assassinate many top Democrats. Craig Robertson/Facebook
Craig Robertson described himself as a “MAGA TRUMPER.” US Attorney's Office

“There’s no way that he was driving from here to Salt Lake City, setting up a rifle and taking a shot at the president — 100% no way,” neighbor Andrew Maunder said outside the church across from Robertson’s street.

Travis Lee Clark, who said he knew Robertson for years from working at their church ward together, was surprised he was considered a serious threat.

“He was a boomer, and he was very political and sometimes made off-color jokes … but nothing that indicated it was a threat,” Clark said.

At the time of Wednesday’s deadly FBI raid, Roberston was facing charges of interstate threats, a threat against the president and influencing, impeding and retaliating against federal law enforcement officers by threat.

The deadly shooting occurred in Provo around 6:15 a.m., when federal agents tried to serve arrest and search warrants at a home, the FBI office in Salt Lake City told The Post in a statement. AP
Agents at the scene of the shooting in Provo, Utah. AP

The charges stemmed from a post Robertson made Monday saying he had heard Biden was coming to the Beehive State and he planned to dig out his camouflage suit and begin “cleaning the dust off the M24 sniper rifle,” according to court documents.

In a slew of other social media posts, Robertson had previously referenced a “presidential assassination” and also posted threats against Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and New York Attorney General Letitia James, authorities said.

“The time is right for a presidential assassination or two. First Joe then Kamala!!!” Robertson allegedly wrote in a September 2022 Facebook post included in the court documents.

FBI agents investigate the property after Robertson’s shooting. AP

Robertson was armed when FBI agents went to his home first thing Wednesday morning to serve the warrants, law enforcement sources said.

Biden, who was briefed in the wake of the raid, flew to Utah on Wednesday ahead of a Thursday visit to a Veterans Affairs hospital in Salt Lake City.

With Post wires

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