Man With Lengthy Criminal History Identified As Suspect Who Broke Into Trump Campaign Office

 Law enforcement identified 39-year-old Toby Shane Kessler as the man who broke into a Virginia campaign office for former President Donald Trump last weekend.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said authorities were still trying to locate Kessler, who they say broke into the Trump for President 2024 office located in Ashburn, Virginia, around 8:11 p.m. on Sunday. The office, about 30 miles northwest of Washington, D.C.,  is being leased by the Trump campaign. 

Kessler has been charged with burglary and could face up to 20 years in prison and a $2,500 fine if convicted. 

 

“The LCSO’s investigation determined that Mr. Kessler forced entry into a back door of the location and spent a brief period of time inside before leaving,” the sheriff’s office said. “He appears to have left nothing behind, and it is still unclear what, if anything, he took with him. The investigation is ongoing.”

Kessler was described as a white adult male with dark clothing, a cap, and a backpack. Law enforcement said that Kessler doesn’t have a “fixed address.” 

“Mr. Kessler has a history of criminal behavior and appears to have been in the Washington metropolitan area at least since 2018. He has a California identification,” the sheriff’s office said. 

Court records show that he was previously arrested in Arlington on a felony offense in 2020 and charged with failure to appear in court in July 2020. He was arrested on that charge on July 13, 2024, before he was released on his own recognizance. 

 

The Washington Post reported that in 2019, Kessler was charged with second-degree assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct in Maryland and had a loitering charge in Florida. He has also been charged with public intoxication and property damage in Virginia. 

In a statement on Wednesday, Virginia GOP Chairman Rich Anderson praised law enforcement over its handling of the case. 

“The Republican Party of Virginia is deeply grateful to Sheriff Mike Chapman and the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office for their rapid and professional handling of this investigation,” he said. “Their efforts are a reminder of how fortunate we all are to have the dedicated men and women of law enforcement serving our communities.”