One of the men accused of plotting a violent attack on President Donald Trump’s UFC event at the White House allegedly told authorities he believed the government was run by people who “sacrifice and consume infants,” according to a new report.
The disturbing claim surfaced in an in-depth investigation into the alleged plot, published Saturday by The Washington Post’s Olivia George.
Eight men from six states now face a range of charges, including conspiracy, in connection with the alleged scheme targeting the June 14 UFC Freedom 250 event. All of the suspects have pleaded not guilty.
A worried mother helped unravel the plot
According to the Post’s report, the alleged plan started to collapse after the concerned mother of one of the suspects overheard her son on the phone and contacted police.
The suspect was 19-year-old Tycen Proper of Ohio, the youngest of the alleged plotters. When his mother asked what he was talking about, Proper reportedly told her he needed to “deal with the evil government.”
Her call to law enforcement marked the beginning of the end for the alleged conspiracy, according to the report.
Drones, explosives, and sniper fire
The Post combed through court records to piece together how the alleged planning unfolded. According to the report, the conversations took place online among a group of men who apparently first met on TikTok.
Over time, a plan appeared to take shape. The group allegedly intended to stage a demonstration on the north side of the White House and then fly drones loaded with explosives overhead.
The explosions were meant to force evacuations, with the goal of funneling people directly into sniper fire, according to the report.
‘I’m flat broke’
Despite the violent nature of the alleged scheme, the group appeared to be struggling with a far more basic problem: money.
According to the Post, the group was so short on cash that one suspect allegedly considered panhandling on a highway just to afford a drone.
Michael Thomas, 32, of California, allegedly discussed needing $1,300 for the drones the group apparently planned to use in the attack. But Thomas reportedly had no money to put toward the effort.
“I’m flat broke,” Thomas allegedly wrote online, before floating the idea of panhandling to raise the funds, according to the report.
A bizarre conspiracy theory
Thomas also allegedly shared his views on the U.S. government during the online discussions.
According to The Washington Post, Thomas said he believed the government was controlled by “an elite group of individuals who sacrifice and consume infants.”
The alleged plot targeted the high-profile UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House on June 14.
The eight defendants, who hail from six different states, continue to face charges tied to the alleged conspiracy. Each has entered a plea of not guilty.
The Post’s report draws on court records to lay out the alleged planning, from the group’s apparent beginnings on TikTok to the phone call that ultimately brought the scheme to the attention of police.
