NewsState

Actions

Federal charges dropped against man accused of threatening to kill president, blow up Broward County

Posted
and last updated

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — Federal and state charges have been dropped against a Broward County man accused of threatening to kill the president and blow up Broward County on Facebook Live.

For the first time, Chauncy Lump is speaking out about what he claims he really said in that video.

“I’m not a monster, I don’t have any record,” Lump said.

After 32 days behind bars, Lump is working to clear his name and rebuild his reputation a month after the 26-year-old was arrested.

“On the video, I never threatened the President at all,” Lump said.

The criminal complaint released last month said otherwise. It stated in a Facebook Live video on his page, named BlackMan vs. America, Lump said. "He killed my leader and I have to kill him. I am ready for Donald." Investigators say he was responding to the killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani. According to the complaint, Lump also said, "I need to find the Donald, because if I don't find him, I am going to have to blow up Broward County."

“I actually got the skit from a comedian named Desi Banks, which is a famous comedian on Instagram,” Lump said.

Lump tells WPTV he is also a comedian and claims he was reenacting the skit with what appeared to be a turban on his head, white cream on his face while wearing a shower curtain.

“It happened so quickly, I was on Facebook and then three hours later I was arrested,” Lump said.

Former Secret Service agent, Tim Miller, says online threats against the President are increasing, and he is reminding everyone the feds are watching.

“In today’s world, especially the Secret Service is going to take any threat seriously. They’re going to investigate it and determine whether this person is a direct threat to the President,” Miller said.

Lump says he lost his job and was forced out of his apartment after being charged. Now, he’s starting over and admits he learned a lesson the hard way.

“Now I’m going to be more careful of things I do and things I say, but at the end of the day we have freedom of speech and if I’m not being harmful or threatening anybody I shouldn’t have to go through things like this,” said Lump, who added he is also working to file a civil lawsuit against the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.