GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) -- A western Mass. man is now facing eight federal charges for allegedly threatening to kill the president of the United States, after being arrested with a sword in his hand.

Prosecutors say 45-year-old Andrew Emerald posted the threats on Facebook over a period of months. On Monday morning, a federal judge held a hearing to decide whether he stays behind bars, or goes home, while the case moves forward.

One of those posts from Emerald’s Facebook page reads in part, “We’re going to kill Trump on public television, so the world sees what we do to monsters... if Trump is not dead by 2026... I’m going to Mar-a-Lago and I’m going after [him] myself.”

Monday’s hearing came down to two questions:

Prosecutors say emerald spent months posting threats on Facebook; threatening to injure and kill President Donald Trump. When investigators came to arrest him at his Great Barrington home, Emerald allegedly brandished a sword. Multiple bladed weapons were also seized from his home.

In court, a judge weighed whether to release Emerald on conditions, such as supervision or limits on travel and contact, but the defense asked for more time; saying probation needs to evaluate a third-party custodian who would be responsible for making sure emerald follows any terms of release. The judge agreed to wait.

Emerald will be held until his next court date set for April 15th. Then, a judge will decide whether he goes home, or stays in federal custody, while this case moves forward.

Copyright 2026 Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). All rights reserved.