Donald Trump gestures as he departs a campaign event at Central Wisconsin Airport, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Mosinee, Wis. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon).
A federal judge in Florida this week ordered a 60-year-old woman to spend more than a year in prison for threatening to kill Donald Trump by detonating bombs at two of his properties, a sentence far harsher than the term of simple probation recommended by prosecutors.
U.S. District Court Judge Raag Singhal — a Trump appointee — on Wednesday sentenced Martha Jane Schoenfeld to 13 months in a federal correctional facility, court records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
Schoenfeld in September pleaded guilty to one count of making threats against a former president and/or their family. As part of the negotiated plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to drop a second charge of threatening a former president and to recommend to the court that Schoenfeld serve one year of probation as opposed to prison time.
But Singhal refused to honor the agreement, choosing to impose a sentence that included more than a year of incarceration for the mother of two.
According to court documents, Schoenfeld on the morning of June 6, 2024, called the Trump International Golf Club in Palm Beach, Florida, and left the following voicemail:
“Hi … I was, wanted to speak to someone, but I guess not. But just to let you know, I just happened to stay there a couple days ago and there is a bomb I left on the site. So hopefully you will get everyone evacuated except for Trump. Bye.”
The call was traced back to Schoenfeld within a few hours, and federal agents went to her home in Boca Raton to conduct a noncustodial interview. Schoenfeld initially denied making that threat to Trump’s golf course, but confessed after authorities showed her they traced the call back to her phone.
Shortly after leaving Schoenfeld’s home, authorities were notified about a second bomb threat made to the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas which also originated from Schoenfeld’s phone number. She again denied making the threat but “eventually admitted that she had placed a bomb threat call using the same number to Trump International Hotel.”
Schoenfeld also told authorities she placed a similar call to Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio’s office, but that call did not result in additional charges.
Prosecutors initially charged Schoenfeld with two counts of threatening a former president, meaning she faced a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Following her arrest, Schoenfeld made her first appearance in federal court on July 12, 2024 — just one day before Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to assassinate Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
During her sentencing hearing on Wednesday, Schoenfeld apologized for making the threats against Trump, emphasizing that she did have the knowledge, equipment, or intention to ever follow through on her threats, according to a report from The Palm Beach Post.
Her defense attorney, Mark McMann, reportedly blamed Schoenfeld’s actions on her penchant for watching cable news.
“This was a lady in a condo that was watching too much MSNBC and got carried away,” McMann said, per the Post. “We agreed the probation and the embarrassment was enough. She’s been through enough.”
McMann also noted that the recommended probation sentence with approved by the U.S. Secret Service and Trump himself, who, as the victim of a federal crime, was required to be informed of the deal made with Schoenfeld.
Schoenfeld is required to surrender to authorities on Jan. 15, to begin her sentence. Following her incarceration, she will spend one year on probation.
