California man indicted for threatening dictionary publisher over gender definitions, and University of North Texas president over pro-LGBTQ student demonstrations there

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The U.S. Department of Justice arrested a California man who threatened to bomb Merriam-Webster’s offices over its dictionary definitions related to gender identities. The same individual also allegedly threatened the president of the University of North Texas after students there protested against an anti-transgender rights political candidate.

Key Players

Jeremy David Hanson, of Rossmoor, California, submitted threatening comments on Merriam-Webster’s website after the dictionary changed its definitions of “boy,” “girl,” “trans woman,” and several other terms. 

Merriam-Webster, an American publishing company based in Springfield, Massachusetts, publishes dictionaries and reference books. 

Neal Smatresk, president of the University of North Texas (UNT), allegedly received a threatening email from Hanson after UNT students protested a campus event with an anti-trans political candidate for the Texas State Legislature. 

Further Details

In recent years, Merriam-Webster has updated various gender definitions in an effort to become more inclusive. 

For instance, in 2017, the term “cisgender” was added to the dictionary. That same year, the gender-neutral title “Mx.” was added as well. Two years later, Merriam-Webster named “they,” referring to a nonbinary person, the “word of the year.”

From Oct. 2 to 8, 2021, Hanson submitted a series of anonymous threats through Merriam-Webster’s contact page over the dictionary’s new definitions of “female,” “woman,” and “trans woman,” among others, The New York Times reported. 

On Oct. 2, 2021, Hanson used the handle “@anonYmous” on the website’s “female” entry to condemn the company. 

“It is absolutely sickening that Merriam-Webster now tells blatant lies and promotes anti-science propaganda. There is no such thing as ‘gender identity.’ The imbecile who wrote this entry should be hunted down and shot,” Hanson wrote.

Merriam-Webster defines “female” in several ways, including “of, relating to, or being the sex that typically has the capacity to bear young or produce eggs” and “having the gender identity that is the opposite to male.” 

On Oct. 8, 2021, Hanson followed up his initial comment with another threat, this via the site’s contact page.

“You headquarters should be shot up and bombed. It is sickening that you have caved to the cultural Marxist, anti-science tranny agenda and altered the definition of ‘female’ as part of the Left’s efforts to corrupt and degrade the English language and deny reality. You evil Marxists should all be killed,” Hanson wrote. 

As a result, Merriam-Webster closed its offices in Springfield and New York City for five days. After the publisher reported the threats, the FBI tracked down Hanson through his IP address, The Times reported.

According to a federal investigation, Merriam-Webster is not the only recipient of Hanson’s threats. He reportedly sent similar messages to various university professors, the American Civil Liberties Union, Hasbro, Land O’ Lakes, IGN Entertainment, Amnesty International, and a New York City rabbi, among others. 

On April 22, 2022, the Justice Department announced the arrest of Hanson, who was charged with one count of interstate communication of threats to commit violence. If convicted, Hanson could be sentenced to up to five years in prison, plus three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, CBS Los Angeles reported. 

Joseph R. Bonavolonta, who is the special-agent-in charge of the FBI’s Boston field office, maintained that Hanson’s messages “crossed a line.” 

“Everyone has a right to express their opinion,” Bonavolonta said. “But repeatedly threatening to kill people, as has been alleged, takes it to a new level … threats to life are most certainly not protected speech.” 

Outcome

Hanson released on bond, appears in federal district court 

On April 23, the Boston Herald reported that Hanson, who appeared before Magistrate Judge John Early in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, was released on a $25,000 bond. Early ordered Hanson to undergo a mental health evaluation, wear a location tracker, and refrain from accessing the internet.

According to investigators, Hanson’s mother revealed that her son has obsessive-compulsive disorder and is autistic. She insisted he was not a threat to the community, arguing she supervises him and ensures he has no access to weapons, CBS Los Angeles reported.

Hanson indicted by Massachusetts federal grand jury

On April 29, Hanson appeared in U.S. District Court in Springfield before Magistrate Judge Katherine A. Robertson. 

On May 5, a federal grand jury indicted Hanson on one count of interstate communication of threats to commit violence. The grand jury made an additional charge that stated Hanson had deliberately targeted Merriam-Webster and its employees with threats pertaining to one’s gender identity and sexual orientation. 

“Threatening violent action strikes at the heart of our fundamental right as Americans to live and work without fear, and this case underscores the FBI’s commitment to ensuring that everyone’s civil rights are protected, and those who try to infringe on them are brought to justice,” said Bonavolonta. 

Hanson also indicted by Texas federal grand jury

On May 11, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas indicted Hanson on charges of interstate transmission of threatening communications. 

According to his indictment, Hanson sent a threatening email to Smatresk on March 3, 2022, after UNT studentshad protested an event that included Jeff Younger, a Republican candidate for the Texas State Legislature who favors outlawing sex reassignment surgery for children and has campaigned against “trangender child abuse”.  

“You ought to be shot in the head and have your offices set on fire for supporting child genital mutilation and transgenderism,” Hanson wrote in the subject line of his email to Smatresk, according to court documents. The Dallas Observer reported that Hanson vowed to “start executing” left-wing students and faculty. 

Matthew J. DeSarno, special-agent-in-charge of the FBI’s Dallas field office, said Hanson’s “hate-filled messages” related to the LGBTQ+ community were “swiftly disrupted.” 

As of May 19, 2022, the FBI was further investigating Hanson’s UNT threats. If convicted on those charges, he could face up to five years in prison.