A librarian from Ripley, West Virginia, has been charged with making a terroristic threat after allegedly posting videos on social media that sought to recruit individuals to target President Donald Trump.
Fox News reported that on Sunday evening, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department announced that Morgan L. Morrow, an employee of the Jackson County Public Library, faces one count of making a terroristic threat due to content posted online, while the library issued a separate statement distancing itself from the employee’s actions.
The sheriff’s department revealed that Morrow allegedly used social media to solicit others for a violent act against President Trump, a charge that has sent ripples through the small community of Ripley.
A video, reportedly shared by Morrow and later highlighted by the account Libs of TikTok, bore a chilling caption: “Surely a sniper with a terminal illness cannot be a big ask out of 343 million.”
That kind of language isn’t just reckless—it’s a direct call to violence that no amount of “free expression” can justify in a civilized society.
Comments on Morrow’s Instagram video also reportedly included suggestions of targeting other prominent figures, such as White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, tech CEO Larry Ellison, and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Peter Thiel.
It’s hard to fathom how a public employee could think this is acceptable discourse, especially in an era when political tensions already run hotter than a West Virginia summer.
Jackson County Sheriff RH Mellinger emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “Further details will be released as we continue to compile facts and further the investigation.”
Shortly before the sheriff’s announcement on Sunday evening, the Jackson County Public Library posted a statement on Facebook addressing the controversy.
The library declared, “The comments recently made by an employee do not reflect the mission, values, or standards of conduct of our organization. We take our responsibilities to the public and our supporters seriously and are committed to professionalism, respect, and integrity in all that we do.”
Good for them for stepping up, but one has to wonder how such views festered under their roof without earlier notice in today’s hyper-connected world.
The library further clarified that the views were expressed in an individual capacity and did not represent the organization’s stance, adding that the matter is being handled internally per their policies.
While the library’s commitment to serving the community with integrity is commendable, this incident raises questions about how well institutions can monitor the online behavior of employees who hold positions of public trust.
Let’s be clear: no one wants a witch hunt, but when someone in a role like librarian—a position often seen as a pillar of community values—allegedly promotes violence, it’s a wake-up call for stronger oversight without trampling individual rights.
