An Alaska man, Panos Anastasiou, 76, from Anchorage, has been arrested and charged with making a barrage of threats directed at six U.S. Supreme Court justices and at least two of their family members. Anastasiou faces nine counts of threatening a federal judge and 13 counts of making threats in interstate commerce, as outlined in a federal indictment. The indictment, not naming the targeted justices and their families, states that Anastasiou sent over 465 threatening messages to the high court's website between March 2023 and July 2024.

The threats contained in the messages were described as violent, racist, and homophobic, including references to torture, hanging, and firearms to carry out assassinations. The crude messages repeatedly used derogatory terms and encouraged others to participate in acts of violence. The court document noted that Anastasiou made reference to himself as a Vietnam veteran and alluded to a negative encounter with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Prosecutors revealed that Anastasiou has a history of issuing similar threats to the governor of another unspecified state.

Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the severity of the threats, highlighting that such actions strike at the foundation of democracy by attempting to instill fear in judges. Garland expressed that a functioning justice system relies on judges making impartial decisions based on the law, free from threats and intimidation. The safety and security of public officials, their families, and the integrity of the justice system are paramount for upholding democracy and the rule of law.