A Toronto man has been charged with threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland in connection with a TikTok video published earlier this week.
Andrew Marshall, 61, is charged with two counts of criminal intimidation. He was charged by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on Wednesday and released on bond and conditions in Ontario Provincial Court on Friday afternoon.
CBC Toronto has independently reviewed the video, which was posted to TikTok on Monday, in which Marshall rails against what he sees as restrictions on free speech in Canada.
“I make videos and I post comments and they’re just simple comments and they always get taken down,” Marshall said on TikTok. “It’s getting crazy.”
Marshall then detailed that he would violently kill Trudeau and Freeland “if it were his freedom.”
In the roughly 11-minute TikTok video, Marshall also disses the media, immigrants, Muslims, the police who protect the government and 2SLGBTQ+ people.
Internet access is restricted
Marshall’s bail conditions include not having any contact with Prime Minister Trudeau or Prime Minister Freeland, not using the internet to make social media posts or comments, not possessing any weapons, and not applying for a firearms licence.
All evidence in the case presented during bail hearings is subject to the standard publication ban.
In an emailed statement, Marshall’s lawyer, Nate Jackson, emphasized his client’s rights and freedoms as a Canadian.
“He has the right to free speech, reasonable bail and a fair trial,” Jackson said.
“Having secured Mr. Marshall’s release, we will continue to protect Mr. Marshall’s Charter rights as the case progresses.”
The Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment on the allegations.
CBC Toronto has also reached out to Freeland’s office for comment but has not yet heard back.
