Secret Service Probes Facebook Poll on Murdering Obama

(NEWSER) - The developer whose software was used to create the “Should Obama be Killed?” Facebook poll has talked to the Secret Service. “The conversation with the SS was fine,” Jesse Farmer wrote on Twitter, but “If the goal was to resolve the issue + inform the SS, the way it went down was suboptimal.” Farmer appears to be upset that a third party pointed him out to the "SS," CNET explains. More»

No charges filed

(NEWSER) - The Secret Service has found the mastermind behind the “Should Obama Be Killed?” Facebook poll—and it turns out to be a kid. After a chat with the young perp and the parents, the agency has decided not to press charges, a spokesman said. “This is something we classified as a mistake on the juvenile's part.” He wouldn’t reveal the juvenile’s name, age, or residence. More»

Multiple gun owner charged with threatening the prez after statements in bank

(NEWSER) - The Secret Service is hunting a man who took all of his money out of a Utah bank and told the teller he was on a "mission to kill" the president, the Salt Lake Tribune. Daniel James Murray has been charged with making threats against the president. Authorities say he has at least eight registered firearms. More»

Record staff, supplies needed to counter crowds, threats

(NEWSER) - It is an almost unimaginably difficult job: as Washington floods with millions of visitors, the Secret Service has to comb through and pick out all potential sources of danger to the new president. This means, as the London Times reports, a record five tons of bulletproof glass, tens of thousands of security forces, and near-invincible vehicles. The Secret Service even removed the doorknobs from buildings overlooking Pennsylvania Avenue. More»

Obama threatened more than any previous president-elect

(NEWSER) - Law enforcement officials say Barack Obama is the most threatened president-elect in history, the AP reports. Potentially threatening writings, Internet chatter, and other activity aimed at Obama has soared since Election Day, accompanied by a surge in racist graffiti. Officials say most of the threats come from ranters lacking the power to harm Obama, but they can't afford to take anything less than seriously. More»