Arrest Made in Attempted Murder Plot Targeting OMB Director Russell Vought

Arrest Made in Attempted Murder Plot Targeting OMB Director Russell Vought

2026-02-07 politics

Washington D.C., Friday, 6 February 2026.
Colin Demarco, a 26-year-old Maryland resident, has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly plotting to kill Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought. Authorities arrested Demarco in January following an investigation into an August 2025 incident where he appeared at Vought’s Arlington home equipped with a firearm and a surgical mask. The case highlights a disturbing escalation in political violence, as court documents reveal Demarco was motivated by fears of a “fascist takeover” following President Trump’s re-election and specifically targeted Vought for his role as a principal architect of Project 2025. Perhaps most chillingly, investigators recovered a manifesto and a “Body Disposal Guide” from the suspect, who allegedly solicited accomplices online and expressed admiration for other high-profile political attackers. This incident underscores the growing security risks facing cabinet officials in an increasingly polarized economic and political landscape.

Anatomy of a Targeted Attack

The investigation into Colin Demarco, a 26-year-old from Rockville, Maryland, has revealed a meticulous level of planning that extends far beyond a spontaneous encounter. According to Arlington County Police, Demarco traveled across state lines to the Alcova Heights neighborhood in Northern Virginia on August 10, 2025 [1][5]. Dressed in a surgical mask, rubber gloves, and sunglasses, he was captured on a Ring doorbell camera at the residence of OMB Director Russell Vought [1][2]. Witnesses reported that Demarco, who appeared to be concealing a firearm under his shirt, approached a neighbor to inquire about Vought’s presence before fleeing the scene when police were dispatched at approximately 15:15 [3][4]. Law enforcement’s subsequent search warrants uncovered a cache of disturbing digital evidence, including directions to Vought’s home, information regarding a relative’s firearm locations, and a guide on how to avoid criminal detection [2][3]. Perhaps most alarming was the discovery of a manifesto and a “Body Disposal Guide” among Demarco’s personal effects, suggesting a premeditated intent to kill rather than merely confront the cabinet official [1].

Ideological Motivations and Project 2025

The charges against Demarco—which include first-degree attempted murder, solicitation to commit murder, and carrying a concealed firearm—are deeply rooted in the suspect’s reaction to the current political climate [3]. Following the re-election of President Trump, Demarco allegedly told investigators he feared an “impending war and a fascist takeover” [7]. His fixation on Vought appears to stem directly from the Director’s involvement as a principal author of Project 2025, a Heritage Foundation-backed initiative designed to overhaul the executive branch and consolidate federal power [1][2]. Vought, who also serves as the acting head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, is considered the architect of “Schedule F,” a policy aimed at reclassifying civil servants to make them easier to fire [1][6]. Court documents indicate that Demarco blamed Vought for these initiatives and, in the days leading up to the incident, had taken to the social media platform Discord to solicit others to join him in acts of violence [6][7]. Demarco reportedly expressed admiration for Luigi Mangione, the man charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, further evidencing a pattern of radicalization fueled by high-profile attacks on institutional figures [1][7].

A Surge in Political Volatility

The attempt on Vought’s life is not an isolated event but part of a grim trajectory of political violence in the United States. The security landscape for public officials has deteriorated significantly, with the U.S. Capitol Police reporting that threats related to Congress spiked to their highest levels in years throughout 2025 [2]. This escalation has already turned deadly; in September 2025, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed at an event in Utah, and just months prior, a gunman assassinated Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband [2][6]. Representative Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), the ranking member of the House Budget Committee, condemned the plot against Vought, stating that such violence “represents an attack not only on an individual, but on our democracy itself” [2][6]. Experts warn that this endemic violence is increasingly flowing from online communities, where radicalization is becoming harder to track and contain [7].

Despite the federal nature of Vought’s position, Demarco is currently facing state charges in Arlington County rather than federal prosecution [1]. He was arrested on January 22, 2026, and arraigned the following day [3]. Currently held without bond at the Arlington County Detention Facility, Demarco is represented by a public defender and is scheduled for a preliminary court hearing on February 23, 2026 [2][3]. The case, largely investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, paints a troubling picture of a suspect who had previously been in custody in Maryland in November 2024 for expressing suicidal and homicidal ideations related to the presidential election results [1]. As the legal process unfolds, the Office of Management and Budget has expressed gratitude to law enforcement for ensuring the safety of Director Vought and his family [1][5].

Sources


Political Violence Russell Vought