Springfield man accused of threatening Trump to have mental exam

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – A Springfield man charged with making online threats to kill President Trump will undergo a mental competency evaluation before he returns to U.S. District Court in Eugene.

The Register-Guard reports U.S. Magistrate Judge Jolie Russo issued the order Friday at the government’s request. Also Friday, the public defender for Thomas Murphy filed notice that his client might pursue an insanity defense.

The 36-year-old was arrested Feb. 16 after federal agents tied four threatening messages on social media to his accounts. He faces charges of making threats against the president and successors to the presidency, and using interstate communications to make a threat.

In a previous case, Murphy was found guilty by reason of insanity after attacking two women with a garden pick and a sledgehammer in 2014. He was released from the state mental hospital last March.

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Information from: The Register-Guard, http://www.registerguard.com