Alaska Man Arrested for Threatening Supreme Court Justices
A 76-year-old Alaskan faces charges for sending over 465 threatening messages to U.S. Supreme Court justices. The case highlights a surge in threats against federal judges nationwide.
In a concerning development highlighting the increasing threats faced by the judiciary, a 76-year-old man from Alaska has been apprehended for allegedly threatening six U.S. Supreme Court justices and their family members. The arrest comes amidst a troubling rise in threats against federal judges across the nation.
Panos Anastasiou was taken into custody on September 18, 2024, following an indictment on 22 counts related to his alleged actions. Prosecutors assert that Anastasiou transmitted more than 465 messages to the Supreme Court via its website, beginning in March 2023. These communications reportedly escalated in violence from January 2024 onwards.
The U.S. Marshals Service reports a significant increase in serious threats against federal judges, with 457 cases recorded in fiscal year 2023, up from 224 in fiscal 2021. This surge underscores the growing challenges faced by the judiciary in maintaining their safety and independence.
The case against Anastasiou is part of a broader pattern of threats against the judiciary. In 2022, an armed individual from California was charged with attempting to assassinate Justice Brett Kavanaugh after being arrested near the justice's residence. That case is still pending trial.
The indictment against Anastasiou alleges that his messages contained violent and racist language, with some threats specifically targeting a justice and their family members. One particularly alarming message, sent on July 3, 2024, reportedly stated, "Americans have no trust in you. The internet is abuzz with Americans clamoring for your ASSASSINATIONS."
"Americans have no trust in you. The internet is abuzz with Americans clamoring for your ASSASSINATIONS."
It's important to note that the Supreme Court, established in 1789 by Article III of the U.S. Constitution, plays a crucial role in the American legal system. The Court typically hears about 80 cases annually out of thousands of petitions, making decisions that can only be overturned by a constitutional amendment or a future Court decision.
The threats against the justices come at a time when the Court's decisions and the personal lives of its members have been under intense scrutiny. For instance, Democratic lawmakers have called for Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse himself from cases related to the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack due to his wife's alleged involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
As the case against Anastasiou proceeds, it serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by the judiciary in maintaining their safety while fulfilling their constitutional duties. The Supreme Court, which has moved locations several times before settling in its current building completed in 1935, now faces modern threats that extend beyond its physical premises.
The case, U.S. v. Anastasiou, is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. William Taylor of the U.S. Attorney's Office is representing the United States, while Jane Imholte of the Office of the Federal Defender is representing Anastasiou.
This incident underscores the need for continued vigilance and appropriate security measures to protect the members of the judiciary, ensuring they can carry out their vital role in the American democratic system without fear or intimidation.
