Seattle Public Radio Spotlights Response from UW After AIM Demands Accountability
January 16, 2026
The University of Washington is investigating a research scientist for allegedly posted a comment on social media suggesting she hoped for more assassinations of conservatives. According to a report by The College Fix, the incident has sparked a massive public outcry and formal demands for disciplinary action.
The investigation is focused on whether the employee’s conduct violated specific university policies regarding harassment or workplace safety. Administrators are currently reviewing the facts of the case alongside state and federal laws to determine the appropriate next steps.
The controversy involves Mara Maughan, a researcher at UW’s Fuller Lab. School choice activist Corey DeAngelis posted a video on X regarding the debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports.
In response, Maughan allegedly commented, “may there be tyler robinsons for you all.”
Tyler Robinson is the man accused of murdering Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. While Maughan’s social media accounts and the comment have since been deleted, DeAngelis captured a screenshot of the post and shared it publicly.
A spokesperson for the University of Washington, Victor Balta, confirmed that the school is reviewing the situation. He told The College Fix that the university “denounces violence against all people and takes seriously the concerns reported to us regarding this matter.”
The university is currently looking at the facts of the case alongside school policy and the law to determine what happens next.
However, DeAngelis told The College Fix in a text message that the school needs to do more than issue a statement, arguing, “their actions will speak louder than this boilerplate statement that says nothing of substance.”
Arguments over free speech
The incident has sparked a debate over where “free speech” ends and “threats” begin. Activists like Adam Guillette, president of Accuracy in Media, are demanding an apology and suggested that if the university doesn’t act, the federal government should pull its funding.
Meanwhile, Graham Piro from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) noted that Maughan’s comment might not legally be considered a “true threat.” He explained that the First Amendment protects speech even if it is offensive or provocative.
To be a “true threat,” speech must show a “serious expression of intent to commit an act of unlawful violence against a specific individual,” Piro told The College Fix in an email.
Read the full article here.