Texas Teen Arrested In Plot To Kill Rep. Keith Self
A 17-year-old faced federal charges for plotting to assassinate Rep. Keith Self. See the facts on this ISIS-linked threat and what it means for your safety.
Trending Newsfeed Staff Writer · Oct 22, 2026 · 2 min read
Federal agents arrested a 17-year-old boy in Texas for plotting to assassinate Rep. Keith Self. The teenager allegedly planned to carry out a separate terrorist attack on behalf of ISIS. This threat was stopped before any harm came to the congressman or his district.
On October 5, authorities announced the suspect’s arrest following his acquisition of a firearm. The FBI believes the boy was radicalized recently and acted on guidance from the terror group. The danger to our leaders is real, and the response from federal agents was swift. Rep. Self remains safe while the suspect sits in federal custody.
The Target and the Threat
Rep. Keith Self represents Texas’s Third Congressional District. Co-founding the Sharia-Free America Caucus, he is known as a vocal opponent of Sharia law. Last Saturday, WFAA reported that the teenager allegedly intended to target Self at a local event. Investigators also believe the suspect intended to stage a terror attack in North Texas.
The suspect has not been publicly identified by name. He was taken into custody before the planned attack date of October 17. Self told Breitbart News that preserving the republic means accepting costs like threats. “In order to preserve our Constitutional Republic from the onslaught of radical Islam we need to be willing to take some slings and arrows,” he stated.
A Leader Who Refuses to Back Down
Self served in the military for 25 years before entering Congress. He told Fox News that his family is safe and he remains focused on his job. The lawmaker admitted he had limited knowledge of the specific details before the arrest. He noted that the FBI only tells members of Congress what they need to know.
When asked if his views on Islamic extremism made him a target, Self said he could not prove it. “If it’s ISIS related, you kind of have to believe that,” he told WFAA. He added that he could not prove the connection with certainty. Yet he noted that his resolve to serve has only grown stronger. “I served in the military for 25 years with the mindset that defending freedom was worth the sacrifice,” he said.
This case shows that the fight for our values can put a target on your back. Self introduced a resolution last month denouncing Sharia law and its implementation in the United States. His district includes McKinney, where a new mosque was approved over local objections. The threat against him highlights the growing tension between radical ideologies and American law.
The House Freedom Caucus praised the FBI for stopping this plot. They stated that radical Islam is tearing through Europe and could hit America next. Self’s work to stop foreign legal systems from overriding the Constitution is now under direct fire.