Maryland Man Charged with Attempted Murder at Trump Official's Arlington Home

Colin Demarco, 26, allegedly showed up to OMB Director Russ Vought's residence wearing a mask and gloves, possibly concealing a firearm.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

A 26-year-old Maryland man named Colin Demarco has been charged with attempted murder, solicitation to commit murder, carrying a concealed weapon, and wearing a mask in public after allegedly showing up to the Arlington home of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director Russ Vought in August 2025. Demarco was captured on a doorbell camera looking through Vought's mailbox and approaching a witness to ask if anyone was home, before leaving the scene. Police later obtained search warrants and recovered digital evidence that Demarco had obtained directions to Vought's residence, had information about firearms owned by a relative, and had made online posts soliciting others to murder Vought.

Why it matters

The incident at Vought's home raises concerns about the safety of government officials, especially those who have taken controversial policy positions. Vought has been a polarizing figure for his work on the 'Project 2025' agenda and his support for the 'Schedule F' plan to reclassify federal employees. This case highlights the potential risks faced by public servants and the need for robust security measures to protect them.

The details

According to police, on August 10, 2025, a witness saw Demarco arrive at Vought's home in Arlington's Alcova Heights neighborhood wearing a surgical mask and rubber gloves. The witness believed Demarco was concealing a firearm under his shirt. Demarco was captured on a doorbell camera looking through Vought's mailbox and also approached the witness to ask if anybody was home, before leaving the scene. Police were immediately notified, but Demarco was not located at the time. Investigators later identified Demarco as the suspect and obtained search warrants, recovering digital evidence that he had obtained directions to Vought's residence, had information about firearms owned by a relative, and had made online posts soliciting others to murder Vought.

  • On August 10, 2025, Demarco allegedly arrived at Vought's home.
  • Demarco was arrested on January 22, 2026.

The players

Colin Demarco

A 26-year-old Maryland resident who has been charged with attempted murder, solicitation to commit murder, carrying a concealed weapon, and wearing a mask in public in relation to the incident at Russ Vought's home.

Russ Vought

The director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) who was the alleged target of Demarco's actions. Vought has been a controversial figure for his work on the 'Project 2025' agenda and his support for the 'Schedule F' plan to reclassify federal employees.

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What’s next

Demarco will appear in General District Court on February 23, 2026 for a preliminary hearing.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the potential risks and threats faced by government officials, especially those who have taken controversial policy positions. It underscores the need for robust security measures to protect public servants and the importance of addressing political polarization and extremism in society.