COLUMBUS, Ohio — Eight men have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of murder and terrorism conspiracy regarding an alleged plot to attack a White House mixed martial arts event hosted by United States President Donald Trump in June.
The United States Department of Justice announced the two-count federal indictment on Thursday, July 9, 2026. The charges allege that the suspects planned to use armed drones to attack the “UFC Freedom 250” event on the White House South Lawn on June 14, 2026, while snipers targeted specific individuals during the ensuing chaos.
Golden Info reports that law enforcement officials foiled the operation in the days leading up to the event, allowing the fight card to proceed without incident in front of 4,000 spectators. The event, held in a temporary arena called “The Claw,” coincided with the 80th birthday of Donald Trump and marked the start of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the declaration of United States independence.
The suspects, who range in age from 19 to 32, face charges of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory, and conspiracy to murder a federal government official. The federal indictment, returned in Columbus, Ohio, replaces the initial charges previously filed by prosecutors across multiple legal jurisdictions.
According to federal prosecutors, the accused individuals resided in various states and utilized online chat groups to coordinate the logistics of the assault, recruit additional members, and encourage one another to execute the plan.
The eighth suspect, 21-year-old Charles Scaggs of West Virginia, was arrested during the week of July 5, 2026. Prosecutors stated that Charles Scaggs had been designated to act as a sniper during the disrupted operation.