Peter Fonda and Obama

[Gina]

Did Peter Fonda actually threaten the president? You can be the judge. While in Cannes promoting a new documentary, Fonda made remarks that some are interpreting as threats against President Obama.

"I'm training my grandchildren to use long-range rifles," said Fonda at the international film festival. "For what purpose? Well, I'm not going to say the words 'Barack Obama,' but ..."

Oops. Those comments might just get the attention of the Secret Service, said Washington, D.C. attorney Ross Nabatoff. He explains that "the question is, is that a threat as opposed to him expressing his First Amendment rights? But you could conceivably construe that as a threat—he names the president. It's a federal offense. He could be incarcerated."

Repercussions from Fonda's statement might not be an "easy ride" for the 71-year-old actor, who mentioned a prior trip to Cannes to promote "Easy Rider." Nabatoff admits that the federal courts have no jurisdiction in France, but Fonda's outspoken criticism of Obama also took the form of an email.

Fonda admitted that he sent an email to the president saying, 'You are a f***ing traitor...a traitor, you allowed foreign boots on our soil telling our military -- in this case the Coast Guard -- what they can and could not do, and telling us, the citizens of the United States, what we could or could not do'."

Neither Peter Fonda nor his sister Jane are known for their unwavering support for the United States government, but in this day and age, even the sniff of a Fonda threat toward the president will certainly do more than raise an eyebrow.

[rich_t]

Peter should have shot his traitorous sister a long time ago.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Because of the way it was phrased, it doesn't amount to a threat legally.  The SS has a much more pro-active approach to what constitutes a 'Threat' than any actual legal standard, though, so I expect they'll be in touch with him.