A Woodburn, Oregon, man was charged on Mar. 19 with threatening to kill a United States Senator, according to federal authorities.
Donald Leroy Smith, Jr., age 51, faces charges of threatening a federal official with the intent to intimidate that official in the performance of their duties. Court documents state that on November 12, 2025, Smith left a voicemail for a U.S. Senator in which he said he was “coming to kill you,” that “you need to be dead,” and that he was going to “put a bullet in your head.”
Smith appeared before a U.S. Magistrate judge for his initial court appearance and was ordered released pending further proceedings. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation with support from United States Capitol Police, United States Secret Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, Oregon State Police, and the Woodburn Police Department. First Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Narus and Assistant U.S. Attorney James A. Kilcup are prosecuting the case.
Scott Bradford has served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon and previously held positions such as Chief of the White Collar Unit and Acting Chief of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, according to the official website. The office engages in community outreach efforts aimed at fighting crime and protecting rights across Oregon according to its official website.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon maintains offices in Portland, Eugene, and Medford according to its official website, operates under the Department of Justice as one of 93 such offices nationwide according to its official website, employs 107 staff members according to its official website, and seeks justice by representing the United States in civil and criminal matters while fostering trust in the federal judicial system according to its official website.
Authorities remind that an information is only an accusation of a crime; Smith is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
