U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a news conference on Jan. 12, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
This article refers to violent and racist language, which has been redacted.
A 76-year-old Anchorage man has been released on bond after allegedly threatening to kidnap, torture and murder six U.S. Supreme Court justices.
Panos Anastasiou has been charged with 22 crimes after sending over 465 threatening messages to members of the court, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday.
“We allege that the defendant made repeated, heinous threats to murder and torture Supreme Court Justices and their families to retaliate against them for decisions he disagreed with,” said he said in a prepared statement. “Our justice system depends on the ability of judges to make their decisions based on the law, and not on fear. Our democracy depends on the ability of public officials to do their jobs without fearing for their lives or the safety of their families.”