By A 26-year-old Maryland man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly appearing at the Arlington home of Russ Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, while wearing a surgical mask and gloves, according to court records and law-enforcement sources.
The suspect, Colin Demarco, was arrested Jan. 22 by Arlington County Police after authorities say he traveled from his home in Rockville, Maryland, to the residence of a victim identified in court filings only as “R.V.” Multiple sources familiar with the investigation confirmed to CBS News that the intended target was Vought, a senior Trump administration official and influential conservative policy figure.
Court documents state that Demarco believed President Donald Trump’s reelection would lead to an “impending war and a fascist takeover.” Investigators say Demarco had expressed intense opposition to Vought’s role in shaping Project 2025, a Heritage Foundation-backed policy agenda for a future Republican administration that calls for a sweeping reorganization of the federal government and expanded executive authority.
According to the criminal complaint, Demarco was captured on a Ring doorbell camera on Aug. 10 at the front door of Vought’s Arlington home, wearing gloves, sunglasses, a surgical mask, and a backpack. He was also seen looking through Vought’s mailbox and approaching a neighbor to ask whether anyone was home. The neighbor later told investigators that Demarco appeared to have a firearm tucked beneath his shirt.
Although the neighbor initially misidentified the suspect, investigators with the U.S. Marshals Service later identified Demarco as the individual in the video and interviewed him at his residence. During questioning, Demarco acknowledged traveling to Arlington but initially claimed he was seeking employment. He later admitted going to Vought’s home to confront him about Project 2025, while denying that he carried a weapon or intended to harm anyone.
Search warrants executed on Demarco’s iCloud account uncovered a series of notes that investigators say raised further alarm, including references to a weapons stash and a document titled “Body Disposal Guide,” which advised steps such as “always wear rubber gloves” and “make an airtight alibi.” One note, titled “Dad’s Gun Stash,” referenced a fully loaded .357 Magnum Colt revolver. A subsequent search of Demarco’s room did not recover any firearms, though agents reported observing him destroy a handwritten note containing the word “tyranny.”
Court filings also cite Discord messages in which Demarco allegedly discussed killing President Trump and referenced Vought directly, writing, “I found this guy’s address.” In another message, he invoked Luigi Mangione—the man charged in the killing of UnitedHealth Group CEO Brian Thompson—asking whether others would be willing to “Luigi him.”
Political assassinations have gained acceptance among liberals over the past few years, especially young liberal men.
Investigators further disclosed that Demarco had previously come to the attention of law enforcement. In November 2024, he was taken into custody under a mental-health emergency petition after asking a police officer to shoot him or run him over. According to the complaint, Demarco stated at the time that he had begun writing a manifesto and intended to kill people once it was completed.
Vought has drawn sustained controversy for his leadership role in implementing mass federal workforce reductions during Trump’s second administration and for architecting Schedule F, a regulatory plan designed to reclassify thousands of civil-service employees. Court filings indicate that Vought has received numerous violent threats since last year and is now protected by a U.S. Marshals Service security detail.
An OMB spokesperson said in a statement that the agency was “grateful for the work of law enforcement in keeping Director Vought and his family safe.”
Demarco is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 23. He has retained legal counsel, though a representative for the Arlington public defender’s office declined to comment. It remains unclear why the case is proceeding under state charges rather than federal prosecution, despite Demarco’s interstate travel and the involvement of federal investigators.
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