Michigan man charged with allegedly threatening to kill Kash Patel, ‘his associate’

A Michigan man was charged Friday with allegedly threatening the life of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel and “his associate.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Michigan said in a news release that 42-year-old Anthony Daniel Palazzolo was arrested and appeared in federal court on Friday after he sent a threatening Facebook message earlier this month to an associate of Patel.

In the Oct. 8 message, Palazzolo allegedly wrote to the associate, who was not named, that he had “put out a hit” against him.

A detention hearing has been set for Nov. 2.

Reports of threats against government officials and elected leaders have been on the rise in recent years. A CBS News investigation published in February found there were 126 people charged last year for making threats to federal and top state officials.

Ahead of the midterm elections, many lawmakers reported suspicious packages containing white powder had been delivered to their home district and state offices.

Additionally, law enforcement arrested two men earlier this month who separately made death threats against Reps. Keith Self (R-Texas) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.).

In a social media post following this threat, Self thanked the FBI and local law enforcement for their response.

“My family and I are safe, and I remain focused on serving the people of Texas’ 3rd District,” Self wrote. “Preserving our constitutional republic from radical Islam means accepting the costs that come with it—name-calling, threats, and worse.”

Moskowitz similarly thanked law enforcement partners and said he and his family were safe following the incident.