British Man in Alleged Plot to Kill Donald Trump Pleads Not Guilty

On June 18, Sandford, of Dorking, Surrey, attempted to remove a police officer’s gun from its holster and said he meant to kill GOP presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump during a political rally at the Mystere Theatre in the Treasure Island casino.

A judge set an August 22 trial date for Michael Steven Sandford, 20, on charges of disrupting an official function and two firearm possession counts.

“I have been told through reading the press he faces 30 years in prison and ridiculous amounts of fines and there is no way he would be able to cope with that”.

In this June 18, 2016, photo, police remove Michael Sandford as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the Treasure Island hotel and casino in Las Vegas.

“I was horrified, obviously”, Lynne Sandford told the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire program.

Speaking of Michael’s history of mental illness, Ms Sandford said her son had experienced mental health difficulties from a young age and consistently struggled with his finances while overseas.

NBC News reported that the federal public defender representing Sandford said they were sill gathering information and could not comment on the case.

Michael Steven Sandford, who, according to Metro Police, was in the United States illegally when he drove from San Bernardino, Calif., to Las Vegas for the June 17 rally, stood stoically in a yellow jumpsuit.

However, she also doesn’t want him to be jailed in the United States, as he has a history of contacts with mental health services providers and has attempted suicide in the past.

Sandford said her son has previously tried to commit suicide, and she fears he will try again. He had to be sectioned as a teenager after suffering from anorexia, she added.

Prosecutors say Sandford on June 17 went to a gun range learn how to shoot a gun, and practiced with a Glock 9 mm handgun, which is the type of weapon he allegedly tried to grab from the officer.

Trump, on stage, didn’t appear to know what happened. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Sandford stayed for nine months longer than he was allowed through the visa waiver program.

“That was ultimately why we went to the police and the authorities to say there are lots of things that don’t add up in this situation and we’re anxious for him”.