DOJ: Texts, Guns, and Radical Rhetoric Spark Federal Case Involving Ex-Congresswoman’s Family
A Georgia man is facing federal charges for allegedly sending chilling death threats to Abraham Williams, the husband of U.S. Director of National Intelligence and former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. The Justice Department confirmed the arrest on Monday, describing a pattern of violent threats that left investigators stunned and prosecutors moving swiftly.
Aliakbar Mohammad Amin is accused of sending a stream of menacing messages between March 29 and April 1, telling Williams his family would “die soon.” That wasn’t all. Screenshots, social media posts, and even a gun pointed at a photo of Gabbard surfaced — part of what prosecutors say is a disturbing escalation in politically motivated threats in the U.S.
Texts Paint a Terrifying Picture
According to court filings, the content of the texts was beyond disturbing.
Amin reportedly used iMessage to contact Williams directly — how he got the number, still unknown. In one message, he warned Williams that Gabbard should obey “Mr. Vladimir Putin’s orders” or else. That same message featured bear emojis next to Russian flags, a bizarre and unnerving attempt to couch the threats in vague symbolism.
Federal officials said Amin warned that the couple’s home in Texas could be destroyed. One text referenced launching “mass casualty events,” while another explicitly said Amin would “personally do the job if necessary.”
One paragraph in the filings jumps off the page: “Your family will die soon.” The words hit like a sledgehammer. No ambiguity. No mistaking the intent.
Gun Photos and Radical Motives
Beyond texts, Amin’s X account — formerly Twitter — added fuel to the fire.
Court documents describe images showing a handgun aimed at photos of Gabbard and Williams. In one image, a hammer and sickle joins the disturbing tableau, along with radical slogans including the Houthis’ infamous motto:
Amin later told the FBI he was furious about America’s support for Israel during the Gaza conflict. He admitted to making the threats during a voluntary interview at his Georgia home on April 8. The gun? That was his, and yes — he confirmed he pointed it at their photos for those posts.
Law Enforcement Responds
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie Jr. didn’t mince words.
“Threatening to harm public officials is a criminal act that cannot be excused as political discourse,” he said in a DOJ statement. “We will vigorously prosecute individuals who commit these acts of violence.”
Paul Brown, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Atlanta field office, echoed that sentiment.
“These aren’t just words,” Brown said. “This is serious criminal behavior. And if you do it, we will find you.”
Right now, Amin is sitting in federal detention. If convicted of transmitting interstate threats, he could face up to five years in prison.
Threats Surge After Attempt on Trump’s Life
According to a USA TODAY review of DOJ documents, several Americans have been charged with threatening officials tied to Donald Trump’s cabinet — especially since the failed assassination attempt on Trump in July 2024.
That attack, carried out by Thomas Mathew Crooks during a Pennsylvania rally, ended with Trump injured and a supporter, Corey Comperatore, dead. Crooks was shot and killed by Secret Service snipers on-site. The ripple effect? A nationwide surge in politically charged threats.
Federal cases have been opened in states like:
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Arizona: A man was charged for threatening FBI agents online.
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Texas: Prosecutors say Robert Wilson King threatened to kill ICE officers on social media.
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Pennsylvania: Shawn Monper allegedly used YouTube comments to threaten Trump and ICE agents.
A separate case involved Ryan Routh, who prosecutors say snuck into Trump’s golf club in Florida with a semiautomatic rifle, apparently planning to assassinate the former president. He was caught before he could act, but only just.
Politics, Gaza, and Extremist Messaging
Amin’s case seems to live at the intersection of rage, ideology, and access.
He wasn’t just upset. He felt compelled to act — or at least to say he would. Prosecutors say his anger at U.S. policy in Gaza became a justification for threats, and he wasn’t subtle about it.
The Houthis’ slogan in his messages wasn’t just for shock value. It linked his threats to a broader, global ideological framework. And while Amin didn’t belong to a specific group — or at least none cited in the DOJ’s filing — the words he used were unmistakable.
Here’s a quick look at recent DOJ actions tied to political threats since July 2024:
| Defendant | State | Alleged Target | Nature of Threat | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aliakbar Mohammad Amin | Georgia | Tulsi Gabbard & family | Death threats via iMessage and social media | Detained, awaiting trial |
| Shawn Monper | Pennsylvania | Trump & ICE agents | Threats via YouTube | Charged |
| Robert Wilson King | Texas | ICE agents | Social media threats | Charged |
| Ryan Routh | Florida | Donald Trump | Entered Trump property with weapon | Charged |
This isn’t just political discontent. It’s spiraling into violent rhetoric — and in some cases, real-life action.
The Bigger Picture
What makes Amin’s case so disturbing isn’t just the threats. It’s the context.
Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democrat-turned-independent and now part of Trump’s post-2024 leadership circle, is a polarizing figure. Her hawkish stances and tough talk on foreign policy have drawn ire from many — but death threats?
And it’s happening more often. According to a 2023 Congressional Research Service report, threats against lawmakers and government officials have skyrocketed — with over 8,000 reported threats in 2022 alone. And that was before Trump’s near-death.
For now, Amin is behind bars. But the digital trails he left — the emojis, the gun photos, the slogans — tell a story far beyond one man’s anger.
