There is a chilling story out this morning that another assassination attempt may have been averted. This time, the target was not President Donald Trump or a conservative justice but my former student Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget. Notably, Colin Demarco, 26, referenced the “fascist” mantra being repeated by Democratic politicians, press, and pundits as the reason for his planning to kill Vought.
According to Arlington police, the assassination may have been thwarted by an attentive and courageous neighbor who, around 3:15 p.m. on August 10, 2025, saw a suspicious male who he believed was hiding a firearm under his shirt, wearing a surgical mask and rubber gloves, and carrying a backpack on the Voughts ’ porch. The neighbor confronted the man and later called the police. The encounter was captured on home surveillance video.
Police then tracked down the man and found digital evidence that the suspect had obtained directions to the victim’s residence, had gathered information on firearms possessed by a relative, and had a guide on how to prevent criminal detection. He also allegedly solicited others to kill Vought and, within a few days of these postings, appeared at his house.
According to CBS News, Demarco claimed to have written a manifesto that detailed weapons and a “Body Disposal Guide,” adding:
The court records show that Demarco is accused of plotting to murder a victim with the initials “R.V.” who, according to the criminal complaint, “has served as a presidential appointee.”
The complaint adds that the alleged victim was involved in the creation of Project 2025 — a project funded by the conservative Heritage Foundation- to produce a policy agenda for the next GOP administration. It called for a radical reshaping of the government in ways that consolidate power in the executive branch.
What is most chilling is how Demarco parroted the talking points of Democratic leaders in justifying the assassination. He reportedly told agents that he found the November 2024 election to be the “lowest point in his life” and feared “impending war and a fascist takeover.”
Many of us have condemned the now common rhetoric coming from top Democratic leaders who are calling conservatives or officials “fascists” and insisting that democracy is about to die in the United States. As figures like Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and various congressional members called ICE “Gestapo” and a “secret police,” attacks on federal law enforcement officers have soared.
Recently, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D., N.Y.) called out the “fascism in our streets” and suggested that citizens could be justified in shooting masked agents, a chilling claim made earlier by other Democratic leaders.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D. Conn.) recently declared, “What is happening in Minnesota right now is a dystopia. ICE is tear gassing elementary schools. It is disappearing legal residents into cars. It is murdering American citizens.”
Aspiring Democrats are getting the message. Total Wine billionaire David Trone (who is running to recapture his Maryland congressional district from fellow Democrat Rep. April McClain-Delaney) declared this week that the federal government is “literally executing people on the streets” in “not just Minneapolis… all over the United States.”
Ohio Democratic Attorney General candidate Elliot Forhan is running on the catchy pledge that “I will kill Donald Trump.” It is a race to the bottom as Democratic leaders try to take the lead in mob politics.
For years, people have heard politicians and the press call Trump “Hitler” and the GOP a Nazi movement. Some compared stopping Trump to stopping Hitler in 1933. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) declared Trump “is not only unfit, he is destructive to our democracy and he has to be eliminated.” He later apologized.
Last week, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner promised to “hunt down” ICE officers like “Nazis.” Democratic strategist James Carville previously threatened that “collaborators” may be treated in the same way as they were after World War II.
When combined with the rationalization for the use of lethal force against officers, this rhetoric is not just inflammatory but dangerous. We have heard these voices before in our history. As discussed in Rage and the Republic, we have a rising class of new Jacobins, politicians and pundits who are pandering to the mob. History does not bode well for these politicians seeking to ride the wave of rage when the mob turns against them.
Figures like Demarco hear such reckless rhetoric and take it as a license to commit murder. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) previously went to the steps of the Supreme Court and called out Kavanaugh by name: “I want to tell you, (Justice Neil) Gorsuch. I want to tell you, Kavanaugh. You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.”
Nicholas Roske would later go to the home of Justice Kavanaugh to kill him.
Notably, police are also reporting that Demarco expressed support for alleged UnitedHealthcare CEO assassin Luigi Mangione. Again, the unhinged hear praise for such figures from writers such as former Washington Post journalist Taylor Lorenz who explained the reaction of many women: “Here’s this man who’s a revolutionary, who’s famous, who’s handsome, who’s young, who’s smart, he’s a person who seems like he’s this morally good man, which is hard to find.”
Vought is now under enhanced security protection due to the heightened risk of assassination. Yet, there is no indication that Democratic leaders are tamping down their inflammatory rhetoric. To the contrary, they seem to have “jumped the shark” and are struggling to find ways to stand out to the mob with increasingly outrageous claims. It may work to get them back into power in the midterms, but it will come at a terrible price as they spur greater political violence in this country.
Certainly a price will be paid for the incitement to violence led by leaders of the Democrat Party. The Dems apparently think they will profit from it. At present in the absence of accountability for such extreme behavior, they may be right. Republicans were once accused of engaging in rhetoric characterized as dog whistles. The message was conveyed so that only a few could hear. Dems picked up a bullhorn so that all would hear and understand their intent. Anarchy and violence is their goal. The rest of us may pay the price.
If anyone is confused about how political violence becomes possible, read the comments.
Political violence is not caused by disagreement. It is caused by the collapse of standards and the substitution of rage for judgment.
When people stop arguing facts and start labeling opponents as “fascists,” “Nazis,” or enemies to be destroyed, violence stops being unthinkable and starts being rationalized.
Dehumanize first. Justify later. That sequence is not accidental. It is historical, predictable, and playing out in real time.
This is not a partisan failure. It is a failure of citizen formation. And it is on full display here.
So many children and disappointed weak minded academics here. It’s time for the radical left to face the fact that the United States is a center right country.
This is the latest in a long series of leftist upheaval in our history. Most of those have been abject failures. We need one every 20-30 years to remind ourselves just how far removed from Realville the screaming purple haired idiots can be.
The only bit of luck here is that these would be assassins seem to be rather careless in their planning, seem to be loners living in their own bubble, and are a bit delusional about their motives except to express the talking points they’ve heard on TV. As well, they seem to have been whipped into a frenzy to take an “enemy.” life.
Tell Charlie Kirk and the fireman killed at the Trump rally how lucky we are.
Sorry, I know your heart is in the right place and I guess we are lucky in that Vought and Kavanaugh could have both been in trouble, but it is the rhetoric of the Dems that needs to be called out as Turley does.
You clown. Can’t even recall the name of Corey Comperatore. You disgusting stupid drunk.
You just described Hullbodby…. loner, delusional, frantic. And alcoholic. He also spent 5 years in Walpole (MA) prison. Thank you.
Nice Leftist Scumbag – typical disheveled street urchin with nothing to loss or live for! Oh but what a devoted lunatic after being groomed by his favorite Democrap Politicians and Influencers. One thing about a “free society” is the lowest common denominators seem to go right to violence because their public education reinforced their LOW IQ and anarchist Democrats love lone wolf morons on their team.
Hey post a picture of yourself. I’m guessing you’re white trailer trash. No offense intended.
Anonymous, so are you defending the guy? Parasite.
Drunk pedo.
A Russian writer in the 19th century, where revolutionary rhetoric was extremely popular, observed that political activists usually secretly believed in the practices which they condemned the hardest. This statement was proved true in 1917.
I think you made that up. If you knew the writer as a fact, then you would have given him/her due credit for the quote. So, basically, you lied.
It was Dostoyevsky who @edwardmahl remembered. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30129713 . Now please apologize.
You likes the BBC is wrong. But aren’t they always? François-Marie Arouet, better known by his pen name Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer, philosopher, satirist, and historian born in 1694. He lived to the age of 84 in 1778. Seems Dostoyevsky, born 1821, read Voltaire and then plagiarized him.
Now you owe two commenters an apology.
Look up pedantic to see a picture of Lisa A.
Got something against women eh? You freak, you drunk.
“I think you made that up.”
He’s obviously referring to Dostoevsky’s “Demons” (aka “The Possessed”).
If you were culturally literate, you’d know that. Or if you were intellectually ambitious, as opposed to a drive-by-shooter, you could have discovered that in about 2 minutes.
P.S. To aid the search that you’re not going to do: Dostoevsky was a 19th century Russian writer. He wrote during a time “where revolutionary rhetoric was extremely popular.”
If you were intellectually ambitious, as opposed to being a lazy clown, you could have discovered that you’re wrong. So you did that in all of 2 minutes huh?
You pompous clown.
Linda, what exactly is your problem here?
What is your problem, you bully?
The quote “secretly believed in the practices which they condemned the hardest” is not directly attributed to Voltaire in the provided search results. However, the sentiment aligns with Voltaire’s broader critiques of hypocrisy, particularly in religious and moral authority.
This specific phrasing appears to be a paraphrased or reworded interpretation of ideas found in Voltaire’s works, especially his “Questions on Miracles” (1765), where he examines the contradictions and hypocrisies in religious institutions. In that text, Voltaire critiques those who claim moral superiority while privately engaging in or tolerating the very behaviors they publicly denounce.
While the exact wording is not found in Voltaire’s original French writings, the concept resonates with his famous observation:
“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”
This reflects his deep concern about the manipulation of belief and the resulting moral corruption.
The quote in question likely stems from modern interpretations or summaries of Voltaire’s philosophical stance, rather than a direct, verifiable quote from his works.
Russian huh?
Did ChatGPT help ya there?
“Russian huh?”
Pretty sure that Dostoevsky was Russian. Voltaire, not so much.
You drive-by-shooters do a good job of making yourselves look like the fools that you are.
Not even sure if Dostoevsky was Russian? And you have no idea who Voltaire nationality? In 2 minutes you could have found that.
Um… no big deal. Stupid people, like yourself, can’t help themselves.
Very glad that no one was harmed.
Ironically, the ones claiming they are fighting fascists are, themselves, fascists. They are intolerant and judgmental, full of hate and rage, acting out the very violence used by their fascist forebears in the Nazi party.
And the test is the comments section here. Rabid, hateful geriatrics scream insults and threats at everyone.
Midterms will give the people back their power.
And we will destroy all Nazis in the USA. Long live the people!
No such thing. You have maos red guard in the democrats though.
Start by destroying Schumer….Please…🙏🙏🙏
You sound like you are creeping past the graveyard. There are millions of young people who supported Trump in the last election. Skillful politicing from Republicans can turn them out again. In the mean time most folks on the left would pee their pants if they ever met Himmler. Heydrich and the boys.
Anonymous. 🤦
The People are the Moderates and Independents, is that who you are speaking of? Certainly not the Wingnut Lefties😹😹😹
Another red meat post. Come on MAGAotts indulge.
Be less progressively stupid, there will be less red meat. I would like that.
Thanks for confirming your hate and ignorance.
BTW, learn to spell.