Alabama man charged after alleged trip to Atlanta with gun to kill then-President Joe Biden
Federal case focuses on June 2024 travel tied to Atlanta presidential debate
A 23-year-old Alabama man has been arrested on a federal charge after investigators alleged he traveled to Atlanta in June 2024 with the intent to kill then-President Joseph R. Biden Jr. The suspect, Adam Benjamin Hall of Crane Hill, Alabama, appeared in federal court in Atlanta on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026.
The case is being prosecuted in the Northern District of Georgia. The charge was filed by criminal complaint on Jan. 26, 2026, and federal authorities said the investigation remains ongoing and additional charges could be brought later.
What prosecutors allege happened in Atlanta on June 27, 2024
Federal authorities allege Hall drove from Alabama to Atlanta on June 27, 2024, the day of the presidential debate hosted by CNN. Prosecutors say Hall planned to sneak into the debate venue and kill President Biden that evening.
Investigators also alleged a map screenshot recovered from Hall’s phone showed a location marker placing the device about three blocks from the debate site roughly 28 minutes before the scheduled start time, after adjusting the time to local time.
- Alleged travel: Alabama to Atlanta on June 27, 2024
- Alleged objective: entering the debate area to kill then-President Biden
- Digital evidence cited: a map screenshot placing the phone near the debate site shortly before it began
Writings recovered from a phone are part of the government’s filing
Authorities allege Hall’s phone contained a note he described as an “exposé” or “manifesto.” Prosecutors characterized the writing as containing threats and urging violent political action. The note included language referring to “Free Palestine” and described marching on federal institutions while armed, among other statements.
The criminal complaint is an accusation. Hall is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
How investigators say the case came to light
Federal filings describe an investigation that accelerated in 2025 after Hall allegedly made statements to others about having previously traveled to Atlanta during the 2024 debate with a firearm and intending to kill the president. Authorities said the U.S. Secret Service investigated the matter in coordination with federal prosecutors in Atlanta.
Hall’s initial court appearance took place before a U.S. magistrate judge in federal court. No trial schedule was announced in the publicly described court proceedings, and prosecutors noted the inquiry is continuing.
What comes next
Because the current filing is a criminal complaint, the case may proceed through additional steps that can include a detention decision, potential grand jury action, and any superseding charges. Federal authorities said they will continue to present evidence through the court process as the case moves forward.