A federal judge whose son was killed and husband seriously injured during an attack that was meant for her says the gunman also targeted Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
According to The Washington Post, U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas revealed to “60 Minutes” that FBI authorities found a locker that belonged to her son’s killer, former lawyer Roy Den Hollander. “They found another gun, a Glock, more ammunition,” she said. “But the most troubling thing they found was a manila folder with a work-up on Justice Sonia Sotomayor.”
Correspondent Bill Whitaker then asked the judge what did she think about a Supreme Court Justice being on the killer’s hit list. Salas replied, saying Sotomayor was “more than on his list.” She was “on his sights.”
“Who knows what could have happened? But we need to understand that judges are at risk,” she continued. “That we put ourselves in great danger every day for doing our jobs.” Following the death of her son, Salas has been trying to get a bill passed that would scrub judges’ personal information off the internet.
Over the past five years, threats against federal judges — including protests at their homes, hate mail and phone harassment — have increased by 400 percent, according to CBS News. In some cases, the suspects attempted to kill them. The U.S. Marshals, who are hired to protect federal judges, are requesting the assistance of 1,000 additional officers, which will cost around $250 million.
At least two of the men charged for their involvement in the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol have made threats towards the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Stephen Michael Ayres, who was one of the men indicted, frequently made posts on Facebook about trying to get rid of political figures.
“Mainstream media, social media, Democrat party, FISA courts, Chief Justice John Roberts, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, etc. . . . all have committed TREASON against a sitting U.S. president!!! All are now put on notice by ‘We The People!’ ” Ayres allegedly wrote.
Salas’ “60 Minutes” episode is set to air on Sunday (Feb. 21) on CBS. Check out a clip from the interview below.