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Charges dropped against Broward man accused of threatening president

WPTV-CHAUNCY-LUMP-WHITE-HOUSE.jpg
Posted at 10:30 AM, Jan 15, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-27 09:59:05-05

UPDATE: Federal charges have been dismissed against Chauncy Lump, the Broward County man who allegedly threatened the president. The order for dismissal was entered in the court docket Monday January 27, 2020.

Lump still faces a felony charge in Broward County for a false report concerning planting a bomb or a weapon of mass destruction, a 2nd degree felony. He previously pleaded not guilty in that case. His next court hearing is Tuesday morning January 27, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale.

EARLIER:
Lump still faces a felony charge in Broward Co. for false report concerning planting a bomb or a weapon of mass destruction, a 2nd deg. felony. He’s plead not guilty in that case, his next court hearing is tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM at Broward Co. courthouse in Ft. Lauderdale.

A Broward County man accused of threatening to kill President Donald Trump in a Facebook Live video was denied bond in Fort Lauderdale federal court on Wednesday.

Judge Patrick Hunt made that ruling against 26-year-old Chauncy Devonte Lump.

Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office had asked that Lump be held on pre-trial detention, arguing he's danger to the community.

Lump faces a federal charge of threats against the President of the United States, along with a county charge of making a false bomb report.

According to a criminal complaint, Lump posted a video on Facebook Live on Jan. 3 under the username "BlackMan Vs America," in which he threatened to kill President Trump.

Lump had "white cream on his face, a towel on his head, wrapped like a turban, and what appeared to be a shower curtain over his body," according to the complaint. Music was playing in the background that appeared "to originate from the Middle East."

The Facebook Live stream lasted seven minutes, and Lump made multiple threats to kill or hurt the president, according to court records.

"He killed my leader, and I have to kill him. I am ready for Donald," Lump said in the video, the complaint stated.

Authorities said Lump made the video in response to the killing of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani, who was taken out by an American drone strike in Baghdad, Iraq earlier this month.

"I need to find the Donald, because if I don't find him, I am going to have to blow up Broward County," Lump said, according to the complaint.

The complaint also said Lump had "what appears to be a loaded AK-47" in the Facebook Live.

When confronted by law enforcement officials, Lump admitted to making the video, but said "the threats in the video were intended to be a joke," according to the criminal complaint.

"However, at no point in the video did Lump claim he was joking," the complaint added.

Court records show Lump lives in an apartment in Oakland Park and holds a concealed weapon/firearm permit in the state of Florida. He is also licensed and employed as a security officer.

Story updated to clarify the name of the judge in the case