40-Year-Old Man Arrested for Alleged Terror Attack During Trump Visit

Authorities say a Texas man is in federal custody after investigators disrupted an alleged plot to carry out a violent attack on the Texas State Capitol in Austin. The arrest came just before President Donald Trump traveled to Texas.

The Texas Department of Public Safety identified the suspect as Benny Caldera Jr., 40, of Converse, a community near San Antonio. According to DPS, investigators received credible information Tuesday evening indicating that someone was allegedly planning an attack on the Capitol.

BREAKING: Authorities say they thwarted an alleged plot to attack the Texas State Capitol on the same day President Trump is scheduled to visit the state.

Jonathan Hunt reports 40-year-old Benny Caldera was arrested near San Antonio after authorities received a tip about an… pic.twitter.com/Uyx0VKwlec

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State investigators then worked with the FBI and local authorities to determine whether the threat was legitimate. The investigation continued overnight before a DPS SWAT team arrested Caldera at his home at approximately 3 a.m. Wednesday.

According to an arrest affidavit cited by NBC 5, a friend told investigators that Caldera had discussed attacking the Capitol. The friend alleged that Caldera said, “I am going to the Capitol and I am going to shoot it up.”

Court documents also allege that Caldera expressed anger toward the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, commonly known as AIPAC. According to the affidavit, he allegedly said people associated with the group “have to be exterminated.”

Caldera was initially booked into the Bexar County Jail on a felony charge of making a terroristic threat against a public servant.

His bond on the state charge was set at $75,000.

Confusion later emerged over whether Caldera had been released after making bond.

DPS clarified that the FBI arrested him at the Bexar County Jail Wednesday evening in connection with additional federal charges stemming from the alleged plot.

He was subsequently transferred from the county jail into federal custody and was not released to the public. Authorities had not publicly detailed the additional federal charges yet.

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Court records also show that Caldera was previously charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon in November 2023. The available reporting did not establish the final disposition of that case.

Texas lawmakers were informed about the alleged threat and the arrest.

Despite the investigation, the Texas State Capitol remained open during normal operating hours while authorities increased their security presence around the building.

DPS said investigators had no reason to believe there was an ongoing threat to lawmakers, Capitol employees, visitors or the general public following Caldera’s arrest.

The investigation remains active as state and federal authorities examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged plan and any additional evidence connected to the case.