ATLANTA - A Georgia man appeared in federal court Thursday after allegedly posting explicit threats to murder a former FBI supervisor as part of an online tirade against federal agencies.
Federal charges in Atlanta court
What we know:
Isiah Washington, 49, of Covington appeared in federal court Thursday following an indictment returned on July 29 charging him with one count of transmitting interstate threats.
Federal authorities said Washington went on a violent social media rant on X in April 2025, targeting the FBI, CIA, and DEA. The posts culminated when he uploaded photos of a retired supervisory FBI agent and a similar-looking person alongside comments stating, "I’m going to kill him," and "I’m going to kill this guy".
Washington is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings.
Police threats and South Carolina charges
The backstory:
In addition to his federal indictment, Washington faces local charges in South Carolina stemming from an incident in June 2025. Authorities said he allegedly made threatening phone calls to a police station in North Charleston, South Carolina.
Statements from federal officials
What they're saying:
Federal law enforcement officials emphasized that threats against officers will be met with swift legal action.
"Washington allegedly posted explicit threats to kill a former high-level FBI supervisor as part of a vicious online tirade aimed at multiple federal law enforcement agencies," said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. "Threats to murder and maim are not protected speech, and they will not be tolerated. My office will aggressively prosecute anyone who threatens the life of a law enforcement officer."
"Violent threats against FBI personnel are not taken lightly, whether they are made in person or from behind a keyboard," said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "As alleged, Washington crossed the line with explicit threats against a former FBI supervisor, and the FBI will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who threaten the lives of law enforcement officers."
Status of the case
What we don't know:
Officials have not yet confirmed a date for Washington’s trial or detailed potential prison sentences if he is convicted. The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges, and Washington is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Boylan is prosecuting the case, which remains under investigation by the FBI.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg and Public Affairs Representative Eric Boylan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, as well as Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham of FBI Atlanta.