Twenty-two-year-old Thomas Fugate made headlines earlier this year when he was put in charge of the Department of Homeland Security's Center for Prevention Programs Partnership.

However, the University of Texas at San Antonio graduate is now drawing attention of a different sort following reports of a "love spat" which allegedly took place several years ago. 

Text messages come to light

According to the Daily Beast, police in Fugate's hometown of Cedar Park, Texas, looked into text messages that he was accused of sending at age 18.

The messages were described as being of a threatening nature and were sent to a local 16-year-old boy regarding a teenage girl, neither of whom have been identified.

"You are not a man, you are a pathetic spoiled child who needs a beating," Fugate was quoted as writing in one of the text messages.

"Accept how she feels like a man. Be a good human being and go your own ways respectfully, instead of and moaning to hurt her. She didn't cheat, she tried everything with you, but you were less than me and continue to prove that daily," he added.

Official calls  report "desperate and embarrassing"

The dispute is said to have arisen after the girl in question ended a romantic relationship with the 16-year-old boy and began dating Fugate instead.

The boy's mother contacted law enforcement, who then proceeded to call both Fugate and his father. No further action was taken and the matter was apparently resolved without violence.

The Daily Mail noted that Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin responded to the Daily Beast's report with a statement.

"How desperate and embarrassing for the Daily Beast that they are trying to warp a silly high-school spat into something newsworthy," she said.

"There was no investigation by the police -- the teenage drama was handled by the parents who all agreed this was a misunderstanding. Teenagers are allowed to be teenagers," McLaughlin added.

Fugate slammed by senator