Kentucky Lawyer Arrested For Allegedly Threatening Governor Over Lockdown

A 53-year-old lawyer from Kentucky was arrested for allegedly threatening Governor Andy Beshear over the coronavirus lockdowns in the state. The Kentucky State Police said that James Gregory Troutman made a post on Facebook suggesting that a reporter "should ask Beshear in a press conference on his thoughts on William Goebel."

Goebel was shot by an assassin the day before he was set to be sworn in as governor in 1900 and died four days later.

In another post on a thread about an upcoming anti-stay-at-home rally, somebody asked, "Will the gov be there shooting plates," referring the Beshear's decision to order the police to photograph the license plates of people who attended church services. Troutman replied to a comment saying, "With any luck the gov will be the one at whom the shooting will be directed."

Troutman admitted to making the posts while speaking to investigators and was charged with terroristic threatening, which is a misdemeanor. Troutman has denied the charges and is arguing that his comments are protected by the First Amendment.

"He didn't say he was going to kill him," Troutman's lawyer, Steve Romines, told WDRB. "We like to pretend the First Amendment means something, but it only does if it's something you agree with."

This is not Troutman's first run-in with the law. In 2007, his license to practice law was suspended after he shot an arrow into his neighbor's home. In 2009, he was disciplined for practicing law without a license. He also spent 30 days in jail following a 2013 incident in which he was driving erratically and refused to pull over.

Photo: Louisville Metro Corrections