Federal judges wonder if they can’t keep themselves or their families safe, how are they expected to uphold the rule of law?
“I double dare you. Tell the judge. Give me a call back and tell that son of a bitch, we’re going to come for him and send his ass to prison… somebody should wipe him out. You damn white son of a trashy bitch,” a man said, his crackling over a voicemail for U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. of Rhode Island.
The voicemail was one of 400 similar messages McConnell received. Investigators also told him someone on the dark web searched for his home address and posted a message about wanting “Smith & Wesson to visit.” The judge received six confirmed credible death threats, and his family wasn’t spared either.