In a chilling case that highlights the rising danger facing federal judges, a 76-year-old Alaska man stands accused of sending more than 465 violent and racist messages targeting U.S. Supreme Court justices and their families. The man, Panos Anastasiou, allegedly began his barrage of threats in March 2023, escalating in tone by January 2024. His threats, which reportedly included racist slurs and calls for hanging one of the justices alongside a former president, were made through the Supreme Court’s official website.
Though the justices were not identified by name in the 22-count indictment, the threats appeared directed at members of the court’s conservative majority, including Justice Clarence Thomas. Anastasiou’s messages also referenced a “convicted criminal,” likely referring to former President Donald Trump, who had recently faced legal battles tied to his efforts to challenge the 2020 election results.
Attorney General Merrick Garland condemned the threats as “heinous,” noting that Anastasiou had aimed to retaliate against the justices for rulings with which he disagreed. The case, he said, underscores the growing danger that federal judges face, as documented by a doubling of serious threats nationwide since 2021.
This arrest comes on the heels of another high-profile case in which a California man was charged with attempting to assassinate Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022. The rise in threats, particularly targeting conservative justices, signals the intensifying division in U.S. political and judicial landscapes.
Prosecutors revealed that Anastasiou’s threats were particularly disturbing, including a message in which he expressed the desire to see a justice and his wife shot by Vietnam veterans wielding AR-15 rifles. The alarming nature of these threats points to a growing pattern of violence aimed at figures of authority, amplified by heated political rhetoric and divisive public discourse.
Anastasiou has pleaded not guilty, and his attorney declined to comment. However, the case serves as a stark reminder of the escalating tensions around the U.S. Supreme Court, as it continues to rule on some of the most polarizing issues facing the nation.
