Evan McMullin alleges man threatened him, his wife with a gun following campaign event

HIGHLAND, Utah — A 44-year-old man allegedly chased and threatened U.S. Senate candidate Evan McMullin and his wife with a gun following a campaign event in southern Utah.

According to court documents, the incident occurred in Highland, Utah, on April 10.

McMullin released a statement about the incident Saturday, saying:

“In April, my wife and I were returning from a campaign event in southern Utah when we were followed, chased and threatened by a man brandishing a firearm. We later learned that the man has a history of promoting political violence on social media, though we do not know if that played any role in this incident. Regardless, he put my life and the life of my wife at risk and I am cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities who have charged him with related crimes.”

Jack Aaron Whelchel, 44, has been charged with: threatening with or using a dangerous weapon, a Class A misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct.

On July 15, Whelchel pleaded not guilty to those charges.

According to documents obtained from the 4th District Court in American Fork, McMullin filed a victim impact statement on Wednesday, Aug. 24. The next day, a motion was filed by McMullin’s counsel to unseal the statement.

“Due to the nature of this crime and the public profile of McMullin, as he has run for President of the United States and is currently running for U.S. Senate, this record should be part of the public record,” part of the motion states.

The judge has not ruled on the motion.