JUST IN: Horrific Terror Plot Targeted At Trump THWARTED

A Texas man is in federal custody after authorities say they disrupted an alleged plot to carry out a shooting at the Texas State Capitol—just one day before President Donald Trump was scheduled to visit the state.

Benny Caldera Jr., 40, of Converse, was initially arrested early Wednesday on a felony charge of making a terroristic threat against a public servant after investigators received what authorities described as “credible information about an individual planning a violent attack.”

According to an arrest affidavit cited by NBC 5, a friend told investigators that Caldera had threatened to shoot up the Texas Capitol and made alarming statements about people associated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC.

The friend reportedly told investigators that Caldera said people associated with the prominent pro-Israel organization needed to be exterminated.

Authorities say the alleged attack was planned for Thursday, Oct. 1—the same day Trump was scheduled to visit Texas.

The warning set off an overnight law-enforcement operation.

The Texas Department of Public Safety said it received information about the alleged plot Tuesday evening and immediately began working with the FBI and local authorities.

Investigators worked through the night.

By approximately 3 a.m. Wednesday, SWAT officers had moved in on Caldera’s Converse home and taken him into custody.

He was booked into the Bexar County Jail on the state terroristic-threat charge, with bond initially set at $75,000.

But Caldera wasn’t going home.

After reports circulated suggesting he had been released on bond, DPS publicly pushed back, saying he remained in custody.

The FBI then arrested Caldera at the jail Wednesday evening on additional federal charges connected to the alleged plot, according to DPS.

He was transferred into federal custody.

“The department said he is not out on bond,” according to the account of the case.

The specific federal charges against Caldera had not yet been publicly disclosed.

NBC 5 also reported that Bexar County court records show Caldera was previously charged with unlicensed carrying of a weapon in November 2023. The reported account did not provide the ultimate disposition of that case.

News of the alleged plot quickly reached state lawmakers.

Texas legislators were notified Wednesday about both the threat and Caldera’s arrest as authorities increased security around one of the state’s most prominent government buildings.

Despite the alleged threat, the Texas State Capitol remained open during its normal operating hours with heightened security measures in place.

Authorities stressed that they do not currently believe the public remains in danger.

DPS said there is no reason to believe an ongoing threat exists against the Capitol, lawmakers, employees or members of the public.

The investigation remains active.

The timeline, however, underscores how quickly authorities say the situation escalated: investigators received information about an alleged violent attack Tuesday evening, worked through the night and had a suspect in custody by approximately 3 a.m.

Hours later, the FBI stepped in and took Caldera into federal custody.

The alleged target was the Texas State Capitol.

And according to authorities, the planned date was Oct. 1—the same day a sitting president was scheduled to visit the state.