Panos Anastasiou, 76, has been charged with nine counts of making threats against a federal judge and 13 counts of making threats in interstate commerce.
On Wednesday, an Alaska man was arrested and charged with nine counts of making threats against a federal judge and 13 counts of making threats in interstate commerce after he allegedly made threats to assassinate six members of the Supreme Court and two family members.
Panos Anastasiou, 76, has been accused of sending over 465 messages through an online portal to the Supreme Court between March 10, 2023 and July 16, 2024. Beginning on January 4, 2024, Anastasiou "began sending messages intended to threaten harm and convey threats of harm towards Supreme Court Justices 1- 6 and Family Members 1 and 2," a court filing stated. He had also donated to Democrat fundraising platform, ActBlue, dozens of times, totaling over $700.
The messages contained "violent, racist, and homophobic rhetoric coupled with threats of assassination via torture, hanging, and firearms, and encouraged others to participate in the acts of violence."
Some threats were aimed at the unnamed Justices intending to "intimidate" and "retaliate against them for official actions Supreme Court Justices 1-6 had taken in their official capacity as federal judges." Notably, the high court has a 6-3 conservative majority.
One message to Supreme Court Justice 1 allegedly sent by Anastasiou threatened to murder the official by "providing the rope" to "hang … from an Oak tree." A message sent on May 10, 2024 also threatened to murder the justice by "lynching."
On May 16, 2024, Anastasiou allegedly sent a message threatening to murder Supreme Court Justice 2 by "putting a bullet in his … head." A May 17 message aimed at Justices 1 and 2 and Family Members 1 and 2 threatened to send "fellow veterans" to "spray" their homes with bullets "hopefully killing" them.
In various messages sent over the months, Anastasiou allegedly threatened to assassinate the Justices by way of beheading, firearms, drowning, and other means.
In a press release, Attorney General Merrick Garland said, "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. 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."
If convicted, Anastasiou faces up to 10 years in prison for each count of making threats against a federal judge and up to five years in prison for each count of making threats in interstate commerce.
Since July of 2023, Anastasiou has made dozens of donations to the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue. Since December 2016, he has made 82 donations.
Libby’s Desk
Commentary and must-reads from Libby’s desk, straight to your inbox.
TPM Newsletter
The Post Millennial’s top stories, delivered to your inbox.
