An indictment against a Bridgton man accused of threatening President Donald Trump has been dismissed.
Kevin Bell was charged in April with making threats against the president — a crime carrying up to five years in federal prison and $250,000 in fines. The case was dropped on Tuesday.
A law enforcement officer asserted that Bell told him in a diner that he “does not care for Trump,” followed by “’I’ll try to shoot him,’ or ‘I’ll just shoot him.’”
A judge dismissed the indictment following a request from federal prosecutors.
Bell’s attorneys argued on June 30 that the charge should be dismissed, stating that Bell was protected by his First Amendment right to free speech. Bell’s attorneys also argued that he is autistic and that his difficulty understanding social cues likely influenced his statements.
Court records do not provide further details on the motion.