A West Virginia librarian has been charged after allegedly using social media to recruit people for a plot against President Donald Trump, and local authorities, the library, and the community are now sorting out the legal and civic fallout.
A librarian in Ripley, West Virginia, faces a criminal count after videos posted online prompted a sheriff’s investigation into threats against the president. Authorities say the posts went beyond angry rhetoric and crossed a legal line that demands a formal response. The arrest has stirred debate about public employees, free speech, and public safety in small-town America.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department announced that Morgan L. Morrow, an employee of the Jackson County Public Library, is charged with one count of making a terroristic threat. Officials described the online material as an attempt to recruit others to harm President Donald Trump, and they say the probe is ongoing. Local law enforcement framed the posts as a public safety issue that could not be ignored.
Social media caught the attention of both investigators and the broader public after an account called Libs of TikTok highlighted a video allegedly posted by Morrow. That post included a disturbing caption referencing a sniper with a terminal illness and the number 343 million, which amplified concerns among readers and authorities. Comments on the video reportedly mentioned other public figures, with some users suggesting violent actions against them.
The sheriff’s office used stark language to describe the activity, calling it “social media recruitment of individuals to pursue and assassinate President Trump,” and that choice of words made it clear how seriously investigators view the case. When online speech appears to solicit violence, law enforcement treats it as potential criminal activity rather than mere online posturing. The county took swift action to arrest and charge the individual while the investigation continues.
Sheriff RH Mellinger emphasized, “Further details will be released as we continue to compile facts and further the investigation,” signaling that the public should expect additional information as authorities build their case. That statement underscores a methodical, evidence-driven approach rather than snap judgments or political theater. For those watching closely, the message is that procedure and public safety are the immediate priorities.
The Jackson County Public Library moved quickly to distance the organization from the employee’s alleged remarks and to reassure patrons. The library declared, “The comments recently made by an employee do not reflect the mission, values, or standards of conduct of our organization. We take our responsibilities to the public and our supporters seriously and are committed to professionalism, respect, and integrity in all that we do.” They also said the remarks were made individually and that internal policies would guide any personnel action.
Community leaders and residents in Ripley are debating where to draw the line between protected speech and criminal solicitation of violence. Conservatives tend to argue firmly for law and order: words that explicitly call for harm are not shielded by political disagreement and must be treated as threats. At the same time, some local voices worry about how public institutions handle discipline while respecting individual rights.
This episode highlights a broader problem for public employers: staff have private lives online, but their roles carry public trust that can be damaged by reckless conduct. Small towns feel these effects more sharply because a single employee can be highly visible and influential. Maintaining that trust means balancing employees’ speech rights with clear expectations about conduct that jeopardizes safety or the reputation of public services.
Beyond personnel policy, the case also raises questions about how platforms and bystanders respond when violent rhetoric appears in plain sight. When someone posts content that seems aimed at recruiting violence, platform moderation, public reporting, and law enforcement coordination become essential. The Ripley arrest shows that when rhetoric moves toward actionable solicitation, it stops being a free-speech debate and becomes a matter of public safety and criminal law.
For now, the criminal process will proceed and officials will determine whether the charge is supported by evidence gathered during the investigation. The community will watch how the courthouse, the library, and social media platforms handle the fallout and whether internal policies are adjusted to prevent similar incidents. What remains clear is that threats against public officials prompt a swift response from authorities, and public employees are held to standards that reflect their roles in the community.
