Judge who blocked Trump funding freeze reports death threats as courts warn of rising danger

A federal judge in Rhode Island has reported receiving death threats after ruling against a Trump administration funding freeze, and an unordered pizza was delivered to his home addressed to the name Daniel Anderl — a name associated, according to the source's account, with a federal judge. U.S. District Judge John McConnell, who per an MSN report was nominated to the bench by a former president, disclosed the threats as concern grows over the safety of the judiciary. The warnings are coming from the top of the legal system. Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan testified about the court's budget request, which included increased security spending, with Barrett saying the threat level against judges is "really high," according to CNBC. Threatening a judge is a felony in the United States, investigated by the FBI and the Secret Service. The cases point to a broader pattern. Experts report that incidents of political violence in the United States have risen significantly since 2016, and judges have described an unusual forum at which they read profane death threats aloud — a sign, they said, of how far attacks on the courts have escalated.

Death threats and a pizza delivery to Judge McConnell's home

U.S. District Judge John McConnell has reported receiving death threats after ruling against a Trump administration funding freeze. The threats were not the only intimidation he faced. An unordered pizza was delivered to his home in Rhode Island, addressed to the name Daniel Anderl. According to the source's account of the delivery, that name is associated with a federal judge, a detail that has been read as a pointed message rather than a mistake.

McConnell sits on the federal bench in Providence. Per MSN's reporting, he was nominated by a former president, though the outlet's account does not specify further details of his appointment.

No dates have been given for when the threats or the delivery occurred, and it is not known who sent them or whether anyone has been charged. Threatening government officials, including judges, is a felony in the United States and can be treated as terrorism or obstruction of justice. Such threats are investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service.

Judges read threats aloud at an unusual forum

At an unusual forum held on a Thursday, federal judges read aloud profane death threats they had received, according to reporting on the event. The judges also praised recent comments by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts condemning personal criticism of judges, the reports said. The forum was described as an uncommon step for members of the federal bench, and it came amid rising attacks on the judiciary. Details of the event, including its exact date and location, have not been confirmed, and the accounts of what was said rest on the reporting of the outlets that covered it rather than official statements from the courts. The decision by sitting judges to publicise the threats directed at them underscored the level of concern within the judiciary, according to those accounts.

Barrett and Kagan seek more security funding for the court

Two Supreme Court justices have gone before lawmakers to argue for more money to protect the federal judiciary. Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan testified about the high court's budget request, which included increased spending on security.

Barrett told the hearing that the threat level against judges is "really high," according to CNBC's headline reporting of her testimony. The appearance put two members of the court — one appointed by a Republican president, one by a Democrat — behind the same request, underscoring that concern about judicial safety crosses ideological lines on the bench.

Neither the date of the testimony nor the size of the additional security funding sought has been confirmed in the reporting available. It is also not yet known whether Congress has approved the request.

A rise in political violence since 2016

The threats reported by Judge McConnell come against a backdrop of mounting political violence in the United States. Experts say such incidents have risen significantly since 2016, according to a Wikipedia summary of the trend.

Threatening government officials, including judges, is a felony under U.S. law. Depending on the circumstances, such threats can be prosecuted as terrorism or obstruction of justice. Investigations fall to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service.

Concerns about violence targeting public servants are not new. On December 1, 2020, Gabriel Sterling, chief operating officer for the Georgia Secretary of State, made an emotional plea to gathered media at the Georgia state capitol, according to reports, urging an end to threats against election workers amid disputes over the presidential vote. That warning, delivered years before the current wave of threats against judges, now reads as an early sign of a deepening problem.

1. 2016 onward

   Experts report a significant rise in U.S. political violence incidents beginning in 2016.

2. 2020-12-01

   Gabriel Sterling, chief operating officer for the Georgia Secretary of State, made a plea to gathered media at the Georgia state capitol.

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