Alaska Man Arrested for Threatening U.S. Supreme Court Justices

Panos Anastasiou, 76, charged for making violent threats against U.S. Supreme Court Justices and their families, according to the DOJ.Photo byTim MossholderonUnsplash

Panos Anastasiou, 76, of Alaska, was arrested in Anchorage for allegedly threatening to injure and kill six U.S. Supreme Court Justices and some of their family members, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced today.

Anastasiou is charged with nine counts of making threats against a federal judge and 13 counts of making threats in interstate commerce. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska.

“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 Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.

“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.”

According to court documents, from March 10, 2023, to July 16, 2024, Anastasiou sent more than 465 messages to the Supreme Court through a public website.

Beginning on Jan. 4, the messages escalated to threats of violence, including assassination by torture, hanging, and firearms.

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 for each count of making threats in interstate commerce.

Notably, an indictment is an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.