The Secret Service is investigating 1980s icon John Schneider after “The Dukes of Hazzard” star told President Biden that he believed he and his son “are guilty of treason” and should receive the ultimate punishment.
Schneider tweeted at Biden’s official X account after Biden called former President Trump the “greatest threat” to American democracy. The actor quickly deleted the post and said his words were misconstrued when asked for comment by Deadline:
Seriously, folks?” said Schneider to Deadline today in the second of two statements on his Biden remarks. “This is my final comment on this. I neither said nor implied any such thing. Despite headlines claiming otherwise, in my post, I absolutely did not call for an act of violence or threaten a U.S. president as many other celebrities have done in the past. I suggest you re-read my actual post and pay attention to the words before believing this nonsense.”
“It’s my position, which I am entitled to have, that some of our nations [sic.] leaders in Washington have lost their way, and corruption runs rampant, both on our nation’s borders and abroad,” Schneider went on to say. “Transparency and accountability must happen in order for our constitutional republic to survive. There is no threat implied or otherwise in that statement.”
The White House hasn’t commented. A source close to the matter says a probe into Schneider’s remarks is underway.
“We look at all threats against our protectees and, due to intent, this falls under the definition of a threat,” an unnamed law enforcement official told Deadline.
The report continues:
A federal Class D felony, a “credible” threat against the president is subject to up to five years behind bars and a $250,000 fine. Restrictions on going online can be applied too by a judge in sentencing, as can three years of supervised release. The law “prohibits knowing and willful threats to kill, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm against” the President, the VP, their predecessors, potential successors and their respective “immediate family.”
If the government deems the threat was real, any “prosecution … would not only require proof that the statement could reasonably be perceived as a threat but would also require some evidence that the maker intended the statement to be a threat,” according to the statute.
Schneider played Bo Duke on “The Dukes of Hazzard” from 1979-1985. Hours before his tweet, he finished runner-up on Fox’s hit reality TV show “The Masked Singer.”
Fox has cancelled all of Schneider’s press appearances following his emotional second place finish.
The network has declined to comment on the controversy.
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