A Toronto man has been charged with threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland in connection to a TikTok video that was published earlier this week.
Andrew Marshall, 61, is facing two counts of uttering threats. He was charged by the RCMP on Wednesday and granted bail with a surety and conditions on Friday afternoon in the Ontario Court of Justice.
CBC Toronto has independently reviewed the video, which was posted on TikTok on Monday. In it, Marshall rails against what he considers limits on freedom of speech in Canada.
“I make videos — or all my comments, that are just simple comments — but I get them taken down all the time,” Marshall says in the TikTok. “It’s just getting ridiculous.”
Marshall then goes on in detail about how he would violently kill Trudeau and Freeland “if it was up to him.”
Over the course of the nearly 11-minute TikTok, Marshall also disparages the media, migrants, Muslims, police who protect the government, and 2SLGBTQ+ people.
The conditions on Marshall’s bail include having no contact with Trudeau and Freeland, that he not use the internet to post or comment on social media, that he not have any weapons, and that he refrain from applying for a firearms licence.
All of the evidence in the case presented during the bail hearing is covered by a routine 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 freedom of speech, the right to reasonable bail and the right to a fair trial,” said Jackson.
“Having secured his release from custody, we will continue to defend Mr. Marshall’s Charter rights as his case proceeds.”
The Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment on the charges.
CBC Toronto also contacted Freeland’s office for comment, but has yet to receive a response.