A criminal case in West Virginia involving alleged threats against President Donald Trump has been dismissed after prosecutors cited legal issues tied to the arrest and investigation. The case involved Morgan L. Morrow, a 39-year-old librarian from Ripley, West Virginia, who had been charged in January with making a terrorist threat.
According to local reports, prosecutors dropped the charge without prejudice, meaning the case could potentially be refiled in the future. The dismissal was reportedly based on concerns that law enforcement officers from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department did not properly advise Morrow of her Miranda rights during questioning. Miranda warnings are required to inform suspects of their right to remain silent and to have an attorney present during interrogation.
Morrow’s attorney, Mark Atkinson, welcomed the dismissal and argued the case should never have been brought. He said the prosecution was flawed from the start and that the legal issues surrounding the investigation undermined the charge.
The case centered on social media posts authorities interpreted as threatening toward Trump. One post reportedly stated: “Surely a sniper with a terminal illness cannot be a big ask out of 343 million.” Investigators believed the message could be seen as an attempt to encourage someone to assassinate the president.
Law enforcement said Morrow was arrested the same evening the post came to their attention. She was taken into custody after an investigation involving local deputies and the Jackson County Bureau of Investigations. At the time, officials publicly stated that she had used social media to recruit individuals to target Trump.
Court documents indicated that during questioning, Morrow acknowledged making the online post. However, because of the reported failure to properly provide Miranda warnings, that statement and other evidence may have become vulnerable to challenge in court, leading prosecutors to dismiss the case.
Following the case, library officials confirmed that Morrow is no longer employed at the Jackson County Public Library.
The dismissal comes during a period of increased concern over threats against Trump. Authorities are also handling a separate federal case involving Cole Tomas Allen, a California man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. Prosecutors say Allen faces multiple serious charges, with more possibly forthcoming.
The report also referenced earlier threats and attacks involving Trump. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump was wounded in the ear when a gunman opened fire during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. In another later incident, a man was arrested near Trump International Golf Course in Florida while allegedly armed and waiting near the property.
Officials have not suggested any connection between the West Virginia case and the other incidents. The White House and Secret Service reportedly did not comment immediately on the dismissal.
