WASHINGTON — U.S. federal authorities are continuing to investigate a recently foiled alleged terror plot targeting a high-profile Ultimate Fighting Championship event held on the White House grounds, as prosecutors broaden the case against eight men accused of conspiring to carry out a mass-casualty attack and assassinate senior government officials, according to the Department of Justice.
A federal grand jury in Columbus, Ohio, returned a two-count indictment charging the eight defendants with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to murder federal officials on government property. The indictment supersedes earlier criminal complaints filed after the first arrests and follows additional arrests made in several states, federal officials said.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has said agents disrupted the alleged plot before any attack could be carried out. According to court documents cited by the Justice Department, investigators allege the defendants used online communications to coordinate preparations, acquire weapons and tactical equipment, and discuss plans for an attack during the June event attended by President Donald Trump and other senior officials. Prosecutors allege the conspiracy envisioned using drones, sniper positions and other coordinated tactics, though those allegations remain subject to judicial proceedings.
The defendants have not been convicted, and the allegations contained in the indictment have not been tested in court. Under the U.S. legal system, they are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Federal officials have not publicly identified evidence indicating that the alleged conspiracy progressed beyond the planning stage before law enforcement intervened. Authorities said the investigation involved the FBI and multiple federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and remains active as investigators continue reviewing digital evidence and other materials.
The Justice Department has not announced trial dates for the defendants. If convicted on the conspiracy to murder federal officials charge, several of the accused could face sentences of up to life in prison, while the material-support conspiracy charge also carries substantial penalties under federal law.
The case is among several terrorism-related prosecutions pursued by U.S. authorities in 2026. The FBI has said counterterrorism investigations remain a priority and that it continues to work with federal and local partners to identify and disrupt threats before planned attacks can be carried out.
The Justice Department has said the investigation into the alleged White House event plot is ongoing and that additional court proceedings will determine the next steps in the prosecution.
