Alaska Man Arrested for Threatening Supreme Court Justices and Their Families

An Alaska man has been apprehended by authorities after allegedly sending a barrage of threatening messages to Supreme Court justices and their relatives. The individual, identified as 76-year-old Panos Anastasiou, is facing 22 federal charges, including making threats against a federal judge and making threats in interstate commerce.

According to the indictment filed on Wednesday, Anastasiou is accused of sending over 465 messages through the Supreme Court's public website, many of which were described as violent, racist, and homophobic. Although the indictment did not specify which justices were targeted, the court currently maintains a 6-3 split between conservatives and liberals.

Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a statement regarding the charges, asserting that the defendant had made repeated and abhorrent threats to "murder and torture Supreme Court Justices and their families" as a form of retaliation for decisions he disagreed with. Garland emphasized the importance of judges being able to carry out their duties without fear for their lives or the safety of their loved ones, as it is a fundamental pillar of the justice system and democracy at large.

The Supreme Court has not yet commented on the incident, as a spokesperson for the court has yet to respond to inquiries. This case comes at a time when threats against local and federal officials are on the rise, prompting the creation of a threats task force by the Justice Department to investigate and prosecute such incidents.

It is worth noting that threats against public figures have been a recurring issue, with previous incidences including a Queens man pleading guilty to threats against a congressional aide and making numerous harassing phone calls to members of Congress, as well as an individual armed with a gun and knife being arrested outside Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh's residence.

The Justice Department alleges that Anastasiou began sending threatening messages in the spring of 2023, continuing to do so until at least July 2024. Recent messages from the suspect have focused on his anger towards the Supreme Court's decision to expand presidential immunity, specifically related to former President Donald Trump's involvement in a federal election interference case. The court ruled that while presidents cannot be held criminally liable for official acts, they can be prosecuted for unofficial actions.

In one of the expletive-filled messages to the Supreme Court, Anastasiou allegedly wrote, "WE NEED MASS ASSASSINATIONS. If you're corrupt, you're corrupt… The internet is abuzz with Americans clamoring for your ASSASSINATIONS."

Prosecutors have noted that Anastasiou admitted to sending the threatening messages during their investigation. In a memo requesting his detention until a potential trial or guilty plea, federal prosecutors highlighted the suspect's history of threatening public officials, including alleged similar threats sent to a state governor.

Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon oversaw Anastasiou's initial court appearance and agreed to temporarily detain him based on the recommendation of authorities. The case serves as a reminder of the increasing need to address threats against public officials and protect the integrity of the judicial system.