A vandal spray painted a threat against President Trump on a wall near a California freeway, but the mainstream media and at least one attorney aren’t clear on its meaning.
A message — reading “Murder Trump ASAP” — was discovered over the weekend on a wall on the shoulder of eastbound Interstate 8 between Los Coches Road and Lake Jennings Park Road in San Diego.
The threat was noticed Saturday evening, but neighbors weren’t sure how long it had been there.
Criminal defense lawyer Vik Monder tells NBC 7 that the culprit could be prosecuted under California law, but only “if it was intended to entice a hate crime or criminal act.”
Monder says if the intent was to incite harm of the president, the vandal’s First Amendment rights would be “void.”
According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, no one had called to submit a complaint.
While being vague on the obvious intent, NBC 4 thought it was bad enough to censor “murder” from the graffiti.
Here is NBC 4’s brief report:
Anti-Trump Graffiti Prompts Investigation. @NBCLA pic.twitter.com/DH46GlDPDd
— Mekahlo Medina (@MekahloNBCLA) March 19, 2017
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