A chilling series of online threats culminated in the arrest of a 20-year-old individual in the Seattle area, accused of targeting the President of the United States.
Phillip Wharton, who identifies as “Sadie Online,” now faces federal charges after allegedly posting violent statements on social media platforms last summer. The Secret Service initiated an investigation following the disturbing content.
One particularly gruesome post detailed a plan to not only end the President’s life but to then desecrate his remains, wearing his face “as a mask.” The chilling imagery immediately raised alarm bells for investigators.
A second post, delivered with stark finality, declared Wharton’s intent to assassinate the President, framing the statement as a legally admissible confession. The directness of the threat amplified the urgency of the investigation.
Investigators meticulously traced the social media accounts – on Instagram and X – back to Wharton, ultimately leading to his arrest in Everett, Washington. Evidence gathered linked him definitively to the threatening posts.
The indictment, filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle, outlines two counts of threatening a federal official. Each charge carries a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison.
The first alleged threat, dated August 19, 2025, accompanied a photograph and the disturbing caption describing the aftermath of a presidential assassination. The second, posted September 23, 2025, was a direct and chilling declaration of intent.
Wharton’s online persona, “Sadie Online,” became central to the investigation, as authorities worked to confirm his identity and connection to the threatening statements. The case highlights the challenges of monitoring and responding to threats originating in the digital realm.
