Long Island man accused of making online death threats against U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, Trump

A Hauppauge man has been charged with making death threats against U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro and President Donald Trump, federal authorities said.

Daniel Kretsinger was being held in an inpatient psychiatric facility pending trial, after being accused of threatening Pirro, a former TV host, on June 30 in a video rant on his X account, authorities said.

The criminal complaint, filed Aug. 7 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, alleged Kretsinger, in a series of video rants, threatened a woman identified only as "Jane Doe." The complaint also alleged Kretsinger made threats against Trump in that series of videos.

The complaint described "Jane Doe" as "an employee of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia." Authorities have confirmed the "Jane Doe" targeted was Pirro, and the X account used by Kretsinger includes a long series of messages linked directly to @JudgeJeanine — Pirro's official X account username.

Records show Kretsinger was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service and first appeared for arraignment in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo on Aug. 12.

He was represented by federal defender Shaiba Rather. She did not immediately respond to inquiries seeking comment Thursday.

Records show Kretsinger was released on Aug. 14 but must remain at the inpatient psychiatric facility, wear an ankle monitor and "stay away" from the intended victim.

He also was ordered not to go on social media.

Officials have not disclosed the location of the inpatient facility where Kretsinger was placed.

In one video, the complaint alleges, Kretsinger also made threats against Trump.

Authorities said that during a July 9 interview with Kretsinger, he admitted the X account was his and that "he had previously traveled to Washington, D.C., Florida and Long Island in efforts to find [Pirro]."

In the account's posts, Kretsinger calls Pirro the "sexiest woman on Earth," while also referring to her at times as his wife.

Many documents related to the case remained sealed Thursday, with the complaint arguing their release could "seriously jeopardize the investigation."

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.