The Texas congressman says federal authorities arrested a 17-year-old before an Oct. 17 veterans fundraiser where Self served as a judge.
MCKINNEY, TX — U.S. Rep. Keith Self says a 17-year-old from his hometown was accused of planning to assassinate him at a veterans chili cook-off, an alleged plot that Self and other Texas officials have described as inspired by the Islamic State group.
Self, a Republican representing Texas’ 3rd Congressional District, said federal authorities arrested the teenager Oct. 5, nearly two weeks before the Oct. 17 event in McKinney. Self’s campaign has said U.S. Capitol Police notified his team the next day and told them investigators believed the teenager had been radicalized and was also planning a terrorist attack in North Texas on behalf of ISIS. Federal authorities have not publicly released the teenager’s identity, detailed the evidence against him or disclosed specific charges.
The event was the inaugural Veterans Chili Cook-Off at American Legion Post 96 in McKinney, sponsored by Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1122 and the American Legion post. Self attended as planned and served as one of the judges. Photographs and event information published by the veterans organization show Self alongside other judges, including former Dallas Cowboys player Randy White. Self later said he judged 19 chili entries and three pots of beans.
Self said learning that an arrest had already been made changed how he viewed the threat. He told CBS News Texas that authorities had the teenager in custody by the time he was informed and said the FBI, working through Capitol Police, provided only limited information. Self said he understood that federal authorities had been aware of the teenager before the arrest, but he did not say he knew how investigators first identified the alleged threat.
Self also told NBC 5 that his team increased its security awareness after being notified. He said his years in the Army, including deployments to combat zones, helped him remain calm because the suspected threat had already been taken into custody. He and his wife continued with their public schedule, and Self attended the cook-off as planned. No attack occurred at the event.
The alleged ISIS connection has not been fully detailed in public records. News organizations including WFAA and NBC 5 reported, citing law enforcement sources or Self’s campaign, that investigators believed the teenager had been radicalized and was preparing an ISIS-inspired attack. The FBI had not publicly released a detailed account of the investigation as of the latest reports, leaving unanswered questions about the evidence, whether anyone else was involved and whether the teenager had any direct contact with the terrorist organization.
Self has said he believes his public positions concerning Islamic extremism and Sharia law may have contributed to his being selected as a target, while acknowledging that he cannot prove a motive. He has been involved in congressional efforts opposing the implementation of Sharia law in the United States and has publicly criticized what he describes as radical Islamic influence. Asked whether those positions explained the alleged plot, Self said an ISIS connection would make that possibility reasonable to him but stressed that he did not know for certain.
The congressman’s comments came after months of debate in McKinney involving a proposed expansion connected to a local mosque. The McKinney City Council approved a site plan in August after lengthy public discussion, saying the proposal met the city’s development requirements. Self has also participated in political efforts opposing Sharia law. Those disputes provide context for Self’s belief about a possible motive, but investigators have not publicly established that his political activity caused the alleged assassination plan.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Oct. 22 that the teenager remained in federal custody and praised law enforcement for intervening before an attack could occur. Abbott described the case as a terrorist threat involving ISIS. Self likewise thanked the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, saying he and his family were safe. Democratic congressional candidate Evan Hunt, who is challenging Self in the Nov. 3 election, also condemned the alleged threat and said political disagreements should be settled through debate and voting rather than violence.
Self has continued campaigning and making public appearances since learning about the case. He has said the alleged plot will not cause him to withdraw from public events or abandon the issues he has been discussing. Federal officials have not publicly provided a full account of the investigation, and key details — including the evidence supporting the allegations, any formal charges and whether other suspects were investigated — remain undisclosed.
Author note: Last updated October 25, 2026.