ATLANTA – Adam Benjamin Hall, 23, of Crane Hill was arrested and appeared in federal court Wednesday, Jan. 28, on a federal charge of traveling in interstate commerce with the intent to kill then-President of the United States Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
“Threats against the President are gravely serious and must be treated as such,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Hall’s alleged actions went beyond mere words and included traveling to Georgia with a firearm to murder President Biden. Political violence is never acceptable and must be countered by swift intervention and meaningful consequences.”
“Our highest priority is protecting the President of the United States, and every potential threat is treated with the utmost seriousness,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Donovan of the U.S. Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office. “Our agents, working in close coordination with prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, worked tirelessly to advance this investigation. Hall’s arrest is representative of the effectiveness of our combined efforts to safeguard our nation’s leadership.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges and other information presented in court: on June 27, 2024, Hall allegedly drove from Alabama to Atlanta planning to sneak into the presidential debate hosted by CNN that evening so he could kill then-President Biden. A screenshot of a map allegedly found on Hall’s phone contained a location marker indicating that the phone was three blocks from the debate site approximately 28 minutes before the debate’s scheduled start time (when adjusted to local time).
Hall’s phone also allegedly contained a note that Hall termed his “exposé” or “manifesto.” The note was addressed “[t]o all the Palestinian journalists . . . and in remembrance of the ones who lost their lives along the way.” It further stated in part:
- “Hopefully my actions snap you all awake long enough to thoroughly understand the point I will make in this exposé.”
- “Our enemies are not in any other country but our own and Israel’s.”
- “It’s time we overthrow these bastards and threaten to pull a f–king D-Day on Tel Aviv . . . .”
- “On the week of July 4th, forget your f–king barbecues and pool parties. Instead do the patriotic thing by marching on Capitol Hill, the White House, and the Supreme Court armed with whatever you have . . . . Unless the feds shoot first, you must not engage. If they are unwilling to comply after a few hours, then I permit you to march into those buildings and do what is necessary to regain control of our country from the deep state.”
Hall’s manifesto concluded “Free Palestine” next to an emoji of the flag of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority.
Hall was charged by a criminal complaint on Jan. 26, 2026, with interstate stalking. He was arrested Jan. 28 and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Staci G. Cornelius in federal court. Notwithstanding Hall’s arrest, the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed later.
Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Pearce is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or 404-581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
