Federal prosecutors have charged a Michigan man with threatening to kill FBI Director Kash Patel and one of Patel’s associates in a Facebook message, then threatening FBI agents by phone.
Story Snapshot
- Anthony Daniel Palazzolo, 42, of Chesterfield Township, Michigan, was arrested on Friday, October 30, and charged with a federal threat crime.
- Prosecutors say he messaged a Patel associate that he had “put a hit out” and that Patel was “a dead mf too.”
- Prosecutors say he admitted sending the message, apologized and said he meant no harm.
- He is accused of later leaving voicemails for a Detroit FBI agent threatening “deadly force.”
Arrest Follows Facebook Message Naming Patel
FBI agents arrested Anthony Daniel Palazzolo, 42, of Chesterfield Township, Michigan, on Friday, October 30. He is charged with one count of interstate communications involving threats. That federal crime covers threats sent across state lines, including by phone or over the internet, and it carries up to five years in prison, according to reports. U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr., the top federal prosecutor in eastern Michigan, announced the charge.
Prosecutors say the charge centers on one message. On October 8, they say, Palazzolo wrote on Facebook to an unnamed associate of Patel’s, called “Victim-1” in court papers. He allegedly said he had “put a hit out” on that person and that Patel was “a dead mf too.” According to reports, he added, “Tell his punk ass I said it.” Officials have not released a motive. The complaint says he had earlier complained to federal agencies about what he believed were violations of his property rights.
What He Told Agents
FBI agents interviewed Palazzolo at his home on October 9, the day after the message. Prosecutors say he admitted sending it, apologized and said he did not intend to harm anyone. He has not entered a plea, and no statement from a defense lawyer has been reported.
A criminal complaint is the paper that starts a federal case. It is a charge, not proof. The Justice Department noted that Palazzolo is presumed innocent, and the government must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
Threats Against FBI Agents Alleged After Interview
Prosecutors say the interview did not end the contact. They say Palazzolo kept calling a Detroit FBI agent and left voicemails threatening to come to the office and “use deadly force against every single one of you government officials.” The message went on to say that FBI and Secret Service staff would “all be” killed, according to the government.
Court documents show past cases against him in Michigan, Texas and Florida, according to reports, including a 2018 charge of falsely reporting a terrorist threat and a separate false bomb threat charge. A cousin told reporters he has made threats before and has never acted on one.
Palazzolo appeared in federal court in Detroit on October 30 and was held for the time being. A detention hearing, where a judge decides whether he stays in jail until trial, was set for Monday, November 2.
Where the Law Draws the Line
The First Amendment protects sharp political speech, even harsh words about the FBI director. It does not protect a “true threat,” which the Supreme Court describes as a serious statement of intent to commit violence against someone. In a 2023 case, Counterman v. Colorado, the Court said prosecutors must show the speaker at least recklessly ignored that his words would be taken as a threat. The court will weigh Palazzolo’s messages and calls under that rule.
Sources:
thegatewaypundit.com, justice.gov, fox17.com, clickondetroit.com, thehill.com, washingtonexaminer.com