A federal judge sentenced a Bozeman man to 14 months in prison Thursday for making threats toward lawmakers and federal officials in Montana and Washington, D.C.
Daniel Alan Verbanec, 47, pleaded guilty in February 2026 to one count of threatening to murder or assault a United States official, according to a news release from the Montana U.S. Attorney's Office.
The investigation started in January of last year when U.S. Capitol Police told the FBI that Verbanec made violent threats against Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan on the social media platform X. Verbanec told them the government was trying to kidnap and kill him and his family.
Verbanec also admitted to previous contact with federal agents, telling police the FBI spoke with him after he threatened then-U.S. Sen. Jon Tester of Montana. He also said the Secret Service contacted him after he threatened President Joe Biden.
Months later, in October of last year, Verbanec traveled to the state Capitol in Helena and demanded to speak with Gov. Greg Gianforte. Verbanec told staff the governor was trying to kill his family and blamed the governor for the murder of Charlie Kirk.
Verbanec refused to leave the building unless he spoke to the governor or was arrested. He then learned the governor was attending a summit in Bozeman and announced he planned to travel there to confront him. Police escorted him out of the building and warned the governor's security detail.
After his prison sentence, Verbanec will serve three years of supervised release.
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