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Politics

Seattle man charged over alleged plot to kill Washington governor

Court filings state Nathaniel David Foster detailed a plan to infiltrate the governor's mansion to hospital workers during a July evaluation.

The short version

  • Nathaniel David Foster, 34, was charged in King County Superior Court with threatening to kill Washington Governor Bob Ferguson.
  • The allegations arose after Foster checked himself into a Seattle hospital on July 18 and disclosed a detailed plan to target the governor's mansion to a caseworker.
  • Prosecutors requested $50,000 bail and a no-contact order, citing Foster's prior criminal history and previous cases dismissed due to mental incompetency.
  • Foster was booked into King County Jail after failing to appear for an August 17 arraignment and later being picked up on a separate malicious mischief charge.

Key facts

  • Nathaniel David Foster was charged in King County Superior Court with threatening to kill Washington Governor Bob Ferguson.[Fox News]
  • Foster checked into Swedish First Hill on July 18 and allegedly disclosed a plan to a hospital caseworker to travel to Olympia, surveil the governor's mansion, and harm Ferguson.[Fox News]
  • According to charging documents, Foster sought to draw attention to grievances regarding his past treatment while incarcerated at a Spokane correctional facility.[Fox News]
  • Prosecutors requested a $50,000 bail and a no-contact order protecting Governor Ferguson.[Fox News]
  • Foster missed an August 17 arraignment, leading to a bench warrant before he was booked into the King County Jail on a separate third-degree malicious mischief allegation.[Fox News]
  • Court records show Foster has prior criminal convictions and multiple past assault charges that were dismissed due to mental competency concerns.[Fox News]

What remains uncertain

  • Governor Bob Ferguson's office has not publicly commented on the charges or the threat.[Fox News]

Sources