Alaska Man Charged with Threatening to Torture and Kill Supreme Court Justices

On September 19, the Justice Department announced the arrest of a man from Alaska who allegedly made threats to harm six U.S. Supreme Court Justices and their families. The suspect, identified as 76-year-old Panos Anastasiou, was taken into custody on Wednesday after sending over 465 threatening messages through a Supreme Court website, as stated in court records.

Anastasiou is facing serious charges, including nine counts of threatening a federal judge and 13 counts related to making interstate threats. If convicted, he could be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison for the threats against the judges, as well as up to five years for the other 13 counts.

The messages sent by Anastasiou reportedly contained violent, racist, and homophobic language, accompanied by threats of assassination involving methods such as torture, hanging, and firearms. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland commented on the matter, mentioning the repeated and severe nature of the threats against the justices and their families, which he claims were made as retaliation for decisions with which the defendant disagreed. He emphasized the importance of judges making decisions based on the law rather than succumbing to fear.

Garland stressed that the integrity of the justice system and the safety of public officials are paramount in a functioning democracy. He expressed concern that individuals tasked with making critical decisions should not have to fear for their lives or the safety of their loved ones.

This incident comes at a time when political polarization in the United States is at an all-time high, leading to a noticeable increase in violent rhetoric and threats. A notable case from August involved the arrest of a man from Virginia who allegedly made violent threats against Vice President Kamala Harris. The suspect, Frank Lucio Carillo, 66, posted threats on the right-wing social media platform Gettr, claiming he would “personally pluck out her eyes.”

The climate of fear among judges has been growing; a report from the nonprofit organization Advance Democracy pointed out that judges involved in cases linked to former President Donald Trump have also faced threats. For instance, Colorado Supreme Court justices and U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkin, as well as New York Justice Arthur Engoron, were subjected to threats, including death threats and bomb threats, while handling cases associated with Trump.

Earlier this year, John Keller from the Biden administration’s Election Threats Task Force noted that numerous investigations into threats against election workers had been initiated, highlighting broader concerns about the safety of public officials.

A Gallup Poll conducted in July 2023 revealed a significant decline in public confidence in American institutions, including the U.S. Supreme Court and the presidency. The poll indicated that trust in major U.S. institutions had fell to an all-time low of 26%.

This month, Springfield, Ohio, experienced bomb threats targeting schools, City Hall, and the local Bureau of Motor Vehicles, which were spurred by heated political remarks regarding Haitian migrants in the area. The ongoing prevalence of threats and violent rhetoric underscores the urgent need for safety measures for public figures and the preservation of an environment where justice can be served without fear of retribution.

As the nation grapples with these alarming trends, the call for protecting the rights and safety of legal authorities becomes increasingly critical in this volatile political landscape.

Source: UPI