Federal authorities have filed charges against an Oklahoma resident, Jacob Wray Hudson, after he allegedly issued death threats towards FBI Director Kash Patel and Patel's girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins. The threats, posted on social media, are part of a larger controversy involving the Jeffrey Epstein investigation files.
The investigation into Hudson's activities began on November 18 when a federal agent identified a post on Instagram as a credible threat. Hudson's messages, which included demands for responses and warning of violent consequences if ignored, escalated in severity, culminating in calls for public execution. These posts were made on Instagram and directly tagged both Patel and Wilkins, prompting immediate concern from federal officials.
Law enforcement traced the Instagram account to Hudson's Facebook profile, which bore connections to an individual previously arrested by Muskogee police. A comparison of Hudson's mugshot from that arrest with images on his social media confirmed his identity.
Further investigation revealed Hudson's history of extreme political beliefs and physical confrontations with family members regarding these views. Court documents indicated erratic behavior extending beyond his online activity. Notably, Hudson, who referred to himself as "Batman" in a separate incident involving alleged attempts to break into a neighbor's home, was arrested after issuing violent threats.
During an interview with federal agents, Hudson admitted to authoring the threatening messages on the Instagram account. He claimed his actions were driven by a desire to protect children and expressed frustration with the Epstein case, believing that the public would hold officials accountable once more information emerged.
Hudson's threatening communications were not solely directed at Patel and Wilkins. The affidavit lists several other messages where he tagged former Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden, using similar language focused on accusations of abuse and corruption.
Prosecutors have charged Hudson with one count of threatening to impede, intimidate, or retaliate against a federal law enforcement officer, alongside two counts of interstate communications containing threats to injure another person. These charges carry significant penalties upon conviction. While federal officials have not stated whether additional charges are forthcoming or if Hudson is undergoing mental health evaluation, they emphasized that threats against public officials will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
