The FBI announced this week the arrest of Tyler Maxon Avalos, a 29-year-old Minnesota man accused of posting a chilling murder-for-hire offer that named former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and offered $45,000 for her death. Federal agents say the tip came from a concerned TikTok user and investigators traced the threatening post back to Avalos, who was taken into custody on October 16 and charged with interstate transmission of a threat to injure another person. This was not idle internet bluster — the feds treated it as a federal threat and moved swiftly to make an arrest.
Court documents and news reports describe the post as a mock wanted poster with Bondi’s photo overlaid with a sniper scope red dot and text that read, WANTED: Pam Bondi / REWARD: 45,000 / DEAD OR ALIVE (PREFERABLY DEAD), followed by a taunting comment about what happens when public servants “don’t serve us.” The grotesque imagery and explicit bounty offer are the kind of violent rhetoric that should set off alarms across the political spectrum, yet this was broadcast openly on a mainstream social app. Americans should be furious that threats like this can be published for the world to see before meaningful consequences follow.
Avalos’s online persona reportedly featured anarchist symbols, a pinned link to an anarchist FAQ, and a username that stylized the letter A as anarchy, details investigators say helped paint a picture of extremist sympathy. He also has a lengthy criminal history — including convictions for stalking and domestic violence — which federal filings say helped agents locate him at a Minnesota address tied to state supervision records. This isn’t some isolated kid making tasteless jokes; it’s a repeat offender with an extremist bent and a track record of violence who allegedly tried to put a price on a public official’s head.
Make no mistake: this episode is a symptom of a broader cultural rot where radical ideology, online anonymity, and the social platforms that profit from outrage combine to threaten real-world safety. The FBI’s work to trace the account — including emergency disclosures and subpoenas to tech companies that led agents to an IP address and signup information — shows how digital trails can be followed when law enforcement is given the tools and the will to act. But relying on tips and after-the-fact tracing is not a strategy for protecting officials or everyday Americans when the violent fringe is emboldened by permissive platforms and a permissive culture.
Patriots who believe in rule of law should demand two things: swift, certain punishment for violent threats and systemic reforms so extremists can’t weaponize social media to stalk, threaten, or recruit with impunity. Reports say Avalos was granted supervised release with strict conditions, including GPS monitoring and mental health treatment, but the message must not be mixed — threatening a federal lawmaker or top prosecutor cannot be treated as mere posturing. If we value the safety of our leaders and the stability of our republic, it’s time to hold the platforms and the perpetrators accountable and ensure justice is more than a news cycle talking point.
