An individual from Alaska, Panos Anastasiou, aged 76, has been formally charged with federal crimes for allegedly sending threatening messages to harm and kill six Supreme Court justices as well as their family members. The accusations include him sending over 465 messages via a public court website, containing violent threats of assassination, torture, along with racist and homophobic language.

Although the indictment does not specify the names of the targeted justices, Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that Anastasiou’s threats were in response to decisions he disagreed with. Garland emphasized the importance of public officials being able to carry out their responsibilities without the fear of harm to themselves or their families.

According to prosecutors, the threatening messages were transmitted between March and mid-July of 2023. Anastasiou is facing a total of 22 charges, including nine counts of threats against a federal judge and thirteen counts of threats in interstate commerce.

The accused was apprehended in Anchorage and awaits legal proceedings. There has been no response from Anastasiou’s attorney, and his contact numbers are reportedly inactive. If convicted, Anastasiou could potentially receive a sentence of up to 10 years per count for threats against a federal judge and up to five years per count for making threats in interstate commerce.

Instances of threats directed at federal judges have significantly increased in recent years, along with a surge in violent messages towards public officials nationwide. A disturbing incident took place in 2022, where an individual carrying weapons and restraints was intercepted near Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s residence following the leak of a draft opinion reversing Roe v. Wade.