Judges Handling Lawsuits Challenging Trump Policies
Pizzas Delivered Under Name of Slain Judge's Son
Democratic Party Requests Investigation by FBI
In the United States, judges are growing increasingly anxious as they continue to receive unsolicited pizza deliveries to their homes. Since the judges who have received these deliveries are handling lawsuits challenging policies of the Donald Trump administration, there are growing concerns that these incidents may be intended as threats to the judiciary.
On May 11 (local time), the Washington Post (WP) reported that "since February, unauthorized pizza deliveries have been made to the homes of U.S. federal judges," adding that "these incidents have occurred across at least seven states, with the number of cases reaching into the hundreds." In some instances, the pizzas were delivered under the judges' own names, while in other cases, they were delivered under the names of judges' children, including the names of children who had previously been killed by a lawyer disguised as a delivery driver. Judges believe that these pizza orders are not mere pranks, but rather carry the message, "We know where you and your children live," and are intended as threats.
According to the WP, most of the unauthorized pizza deliveries have been sent to judges who are presiding over lawsuits challenging the policies of the Donald Trump administration. Judge Michelle Childs, who serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, told the WP in an interview that she has received seven pizza deliveries in recent months. She noted that one of these deliveries arrived immediately after she participated in a ruling on a case in which the Trump administration attempted to remove a federal government watchdog. She added that each time she spoke publicly about the rule of law or threats to the judiciary, whether through university lectures or podcasts, more pizzas were delivered to her home.
Judge Childs stated, "Now, even when a delivery driver comes, I do not open the door, but instead communicate through the security camera." She emphasized, "For the judiciary to approach cases with neutrality, judges must be guaranteed an environment free from threats," and added, "Threats against judges are a clear violation of democracy."
Some judges have even received pizzas ordered under the name of the late son of Esther Salas, a federal district court judge in New Jersey who died in 2020. Judge Salas's son was killed by a lawyer disguised as a delivery driver, who harbored resentment over a case presided over by Judge Salas and visited their home to carry out the attack.
Judge Salas told the WP, "A federal judge handling a case related to the Trump administration informed me that they had received a pizza under my son's name," adding, "First, it says, 'We know where you live.' Second, 'We know where your children live.' Third, 'Do you want to end up like Salas's son?'" She expressed severe emotional distress over her deceased son's name being used as a tool for intimidation, and pointed out, "This is a clear threat that shakes the very foundation of the judicial system."
Pizzas ordered under Salas's son's name have been sent to judges in at least eight states, including Washington DC, Rhode Island, New York, California, Tennessee, South Carolina, Maryland, and Oregon. The WP reported that it remains unclear how those sending the pizzas obtained the judges' personal information.
In response to these threats targeting federal judges, Senator Dick Durbin, the Democratic ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has requested an immediate investigation by the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Senator Durbin stated, "This is not a simple prank, but a deliberate threat," and demanded an official report on the progress of the investigation by May 20.
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