Federal authorities have charged a 42-year-old Michigan man with making interstate threats against FBI Director Kash Patel and one of his associates. The charges were filed Friday in the Eastern District of Michigan following an investigation into alleged death threats sent via social media.
Key developments:
- Anthony Daniel Palazzolo was arrested on October 30 and appeared in Detroit federal court the same day.
- He faces one count of interstate communications involving threats, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
The criminal complaint, unsealed this week, outlines allegations that Palazzolo sent a series of threatening messages in early October. According to court documents, he claimed to have "put a hit out" on an unnamed associate before directing threats toward Patel. In one exchange, he referred to Patel as a "punk a**" and stated, "I’m a dead mf too." The complaint also includes a message in which Palazzolo threatened to use "deadly force against every single one of you government officials" if confronted by federal agents.
Additional allegations:
- Palazzolo allegedly sent a separate message to the Secret Service, Supreme Court, and a Texas court, threatening to sodomize a government official.
- During an October interrogation, Palazzolo admitted to sending the messages but stated he had "no intent to harm anyone," according to an FBI agent’s statement.
The case follows a pattern of threats against high-ranking U.S. officials. Earlier this year, a Massachusetts man was arrested for allegedly sending threatening emails to Patel’s girlfriend. Federal authorities have not disclosed whether the two cases are connected.
Palazzolo remains in custody pending further proceedings. The investigation is ongoing.