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Secret Service Investigating Death Threat Against President Obama

Posted byBy John Hollis | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

The U.S. Secret Service and Philadelphia police are investigating a threat that was made against President Barack Obama from a city pay phone, Fox-29 reported.

Special Agent in Charge Cindy Wofford confirmed Wednesday afternoon that the Secret Service is investigating a call that came in as a 9-1-1 call from a payphone on the 100 block of East Cumberland Street in the city’s Kensington section.

The Secret Service “takes every threat seriously,” Wofford said, adding that they “are working it” with the Philadelphia police.

The threat was called in at 11:53 p.m. on Tuesday from a payphone outside an auto repair shop, the television station reported.

According to the report, the person making the threat was a man who stated he was going to kill the president in three days.

Police are seeking to obtain surveillance video of the man who made the call.

The police department’s East Detectives and the Department of Homeland Security were notified.

FOX 29 cameras found crime scene tape torn down around the base of the payphone on Wednesday morning.

In other news, the Secret Service says it won’t pursue criminal charges against a D.C. police officer accused of making threatening remarks about the first lady.

Secret Service spokesman George Ogilvie said Thursday that the agency’s investigation was complete and that no criminal charges would be filed.

The officer had been assigned to a unit that provides motor escorts for the White House and other dignitaries. In July, another officer heard a comment made by the officer and reported it to a superior. There was no indication of a legitimate threat to Michelle Obama.

Police chief Cathy Lanier revealed that the man would not be prosecuted on WTOP’s “Ask the Chief” program Thursday. It’s now considered an “administrative investigation.”

Secret Service officials have said in the past that they deal with multiple potential threats to the president every day, although not all are credible.

The president is the most threatened person in the U.S., regardless of political party, but is not made aware of all threats against him.

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