Palmetto man threatened to kill politicians over Epstein client list, FBI says
Federal investigators arrested a Palmetto man accused of threatening to kill politicians and others tied to a rumored “client list” connected to Jeffrey Epstein.
FBI agents arrested Terrell Bailey-Corsey July 17 in Manatee County on a federal charge of transmitting threats in interstate commerce, according to an arrest report. He was briefly booked into the county jail before being transferred to U.S. Marshals custody, records show.
Bailey-Corsey’s arrest stems from a series of social media posts in which he allegedly called for the murder of public officials he believed were connected to the Epstein conspiracy, investigators said.
An attorney representing 31-year-old Bailey-Corsey declined to comment when reached by the Bradenton Herald.
The arrest comes as federal officials face renewed scrutiny over the Epstein investigation, which has remained a source of speculation and conspiracy theories since Epstein’s death by suicide in 2019 while awaiting federal trial for sex trafficking minors.
Growing Epstein controversy
Despite his death, controversy has swirled around Epstein and claims that some of his high-profile friends, including former President Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew and President Donald Trump, may have been involved in his crimes.
In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi promised to release investigation files, but earlier this month, the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice said they found no evidence of a so-called “client list” and rejected claims that Epstein used blackmail to control powerful individuals. Investigators said they reviewed physical and digital records and found no list matching those descriptions.
The announcement followed a wave of online speculation and calls for transparency from lawmakers and political figures urging the release of sealed grand jury transcripts and other Epstein-related materials. Amid that push, House Republicans ended their session early to avoid a vote on a resolution demanding the records.
Meanwhile, Trump has sought to distance himself from Epstein. In a July 16 post on Truth Social, he labeled the controversy “the Jeffrey Epstein HOAX” and criticized supporters who questioned why new documents have not been released.
On Wednesday, a federal judge in Florida denied the Justice Department’s request to unseal grand jury transcripts from an earlier Epstein investigation. Also on Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Bondi told Trump during a May meeting that his name appeared in the Epstein files and that the Department of Justice did not plan to release any additional documents.
Palmetto man made Epstein threats, FBI says
According to an arrest report, Bailey-Corsey made the threats on July 15 in a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter. In one message, he responded to the platform’s AI chatbot Grok writing: “Well @grok you’re wrong. Everyone involved if I see them in real life I will KILL. On sight,” Bailey-Corsey allegedly wrote. “I will KILL EVERYONE ON THE LIST. ON SIGHT. AND THEY ABSOLUTELY DESERVE IT.”
Roughly an hour later, investigators say he threatened three unnamed government officials by name, writing, “I WILL F------ KILL YOU ON SIGHT,” followed minutes later by a post stating, “IT’S TIME TO START KILLING POLITICIANS ON SIGHT.”
Court records describe a pattern of escalating threats dating back to late June. In earlier posts, Bailey-Corsey allegedly described graphic fantasies of violence against Epstein “apologists,” expressed a desire to see politicians killed, and invoked historical references to political uprisings.
In one message, he allegedly warned that “every politician that walks the streets should be in fear of citizens willing to end them,” adding, “America First or I want you to f------ die.”
Authorities say he also uploaded a video to Facebook in which he threatened another government official.
Investigators say during a July 17 interview at the Palmetto Police Department, Bailey-Corsey admitted to making the posts, took responsibility for the X and Facebook accounts and expressed remorse. He also told investigators he possessed a knife, machete and a bow and arrow, according to an arrest report.
A federal judge ordered Bailey-Corsey to remain in custody pending trial after a hearing Friday in Tampa, court records show.
