Oct 01, 2009

Secret Service IDs kid for Facebook 'assassination poll' -- no charges

10:01 AM

The Secret Service announced today that a juvenile was behind the Facebook posting that asked whether President Obama should be assassinated, calling it a prank that would not lead to prosecution.

The agency declined to release the juvenile's name, age or residence.

The Facebook posting, put up Saturday but since removed, posed a quiz to readers, "Should Obama be killed?" The options were no, maybe, yes, and "yes, if he cuts my health care."

Secret Service agents -- who investigate all potential threats against presidents -- spoke with the child and the parents, and determined that there was no intent to harm Obama, agency spokesman Ed Donovan said.

"This is something we classified as a mistake on the juvenile's part," Donovan said.

(Posted by David Jackson; photo by Gus Ruelas, Associated Press)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities ... 68500154/1