This federal judge ruled against Trump. Then the death threats rolled in | 60 Minutes
In a Nutshell
Federal judges ruling against Trump's policies face unprecedented death threats, hoaxes, and harassment from his supporters, spurred by his inflammatory rhetoric calling judges "fools," "lunatics," and "monsters"—a 78% surge in serious threats over four years, overwhelming US Marshals. Bipartisan judges, including Reagan and Bush appointees, report heightened hostility post-Trump, exemplified by Judge Kunau's home swatting after blocking birthright citizenship termination and Judge Salis fearing escalation after her son's murder. This demonization erodes judicial independence and the rule of law, with new tactics like doxxing, dark web gallows, and weaponized pizza deliveries targeting judges' families.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
When the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's tariffs, he lashed out at two justices he had nominated, calling them fools and lap dogs. The president frequently railed against judges when they rule against him, followed by a barrage of violent threats from his followers against those judges. Spoke with 26 federal judges: 9 Democratic appointees, 17 Republican, both sitting and retired. Sitting judges feel under siege; most would not appear on camera due to safety fears.
Judge John Kunau, appointed by Ronald Reagan, blocked President Trump's bid to end birthright citizenship. Sheriff's deputies showed up at his home with guns drawn, reporting he had murdered his wife—a cruel hoax. Next day, a bomb threat. A congressman circulated a wanted poster with pictures of several judges, saying everything except "dead or alive." Threats included dozens if not hundreds of death threats, very ugly and threatening. Kunau has sentenced an al-Qaeda bomber and Montana militia members, needed round-the-clock protection, but never as many death threats as in the birthright citizenship case.
I've been at this for 44 years. I have never encountered the hostility toward the judiciary that has existed in this country in the last year. I don't think it's because we're making bad decisions. I think it's because there are people who think that they can make a lot of political hay out of criticizing the federal judiciary.
Trump signed executive order to end 14th Amendment's guarantee of citizenship for infants born on US soil to non-citizens. Kunau ruled it "blatantly unconstitutional."
We cannot allow a handful of communist radical left judges to obstruct the enforcement of our laws and assume the duties that belong solely to the president of the United States.
When Trump lost court battle to deport migrants, he called the judge a lunatic. When immigration crackdowns ruled illegal, called judges monsters. These comments provoked torrent of death threats. Hundreds of threats left on judges' voicemails.
I hope your whole family and everybody you love is raped in front of you and has their heads cut off. (After judge ruled president violated First Amendment.)
I wish somebody will assassinate your ass. (After judge ruled president couldn't cut certain government benefits.)
I double dare you to try to put charges on Donald J. Trump, you son of a...
US Marshals pinpoint verbal threats that might lead to physical violence; judges say marshals overwhelmed. Last year, 400 federal judges targeted by serious threats, a 78% jump in four years.
In very plain English, if we're not careful, we're going to get a judge killed. It's just that stark. It's that serious.
Judge John Jones, retired federal judge from Pennsylvania, George W. Bush appointee. He and 55 other retired judges formed bipartisan group to lobby White House to stop demonizing judges.
This is such a toxic environment where people are taking arms and can identify where a judge lives, can strike out against that judge or the judge's family members.
When Trump attacks judges as rogue, deranged, corrupt:
I think that he's attempting to delegitimize the federal courts. It's a presidency sort of on steroids. You have a very dormant United States Congress and a president who means to really say what the law is. Civics taught me that Congress makes the law and the president faithfully executes the laws. We've turned that on its head right now.
Trump administration facing 600 lawsuits contesting its agenda, from immigration to job cuts; judges in crossfire.
Judge Esther Salis, federal district court judge in New Jersey, Barack Obama appointee, leading voice against personal attacks on judges, target of death threats. In 2020, failed litigant came to her front door, shot her son Daniel dead, wounded husband Mark—not politically driven, but she fears inflammatory rhetoric makes such horrors more likely.
I'm more concerned right now than I was after my only child was murdered. The attacks against the judiciary are only getting worse. What I'm seeing now is far different than what I've seen in the past. This is coming from our national leader on down.
Vilifying judges erodes trust in courts.
If you disagree with a ruling that we make, appeal us. If you disagree with a sentence we render, appeal us. The answer is not to dehumanize us. Our political leaders are playing Russian roulette with our lives.
Do you think the rhetoric emboldens people? I do. I think it's dangerous.
White House statement: "As a survivor of two assassination attempts, no one understands the dangers of political violence more than President Trump." Accused judiciary of brazen defiance with unlawful rulings by activist judges.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch called it a war:
We are routinely getting stays and getting reversals because of local judges just not following the law full stop. It's the same judges or not the same judges, but there's a group of judges that are repeat players and that's obviously not happenstance. That's intentional. And it's a war, man.
Blanch: Some judges issue over broad and even unreasoned injunctions, but threats and intimidation of federal officials is unlawful.
Judge Kunau: Constitution is judge's north star.
To someone who says that you are a political agent trying to thwart the goals of the president: You don't understand what we do. We apply the constitution. For the last 250 years, it's been the judges that say this is either constitutional or it isn't. If nobody's going to make that decision, nobody's going to enforce the Constitution, it becomes like the Constitution of Russia.
Threats not just from right. In 2020, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh would "pay the price" for restricting abortion; later apologized. In 2022, would-be assassin arrested trying to kill Justice Kavanaugh at home. Judge Jones (Republican appointee): Violent language of right has no match.
The national rhetoric from both sides has probably gotten worse over time. However, I would not concede that the Democratic Party or Democratic office holders have conducted themselves in any way similar to what this administration is doing with respect to the federal judiciary. There's simply no evidence of that.
Ron Zas, CEO of Ironwall, scrubs judges' personal data from web. Database has names and addresses of hundreds of elected officials and judges. In 14 years, never seen as many violent threats as today.
If you broadcast that message to a million people, you just need one to act on it.
Zas combs dark web, sees gallows. Threats evolved: Used to be "You ruled against me and I want to kill you." Now, "I want to influence what you do." Mob mentality to threaten for right decision.
US Marshals investigating hundreds of unsolicited pizzas sent to judges and children nationwide, innocuous delivery with ominous message:
We know where you live. We know where your children live. And do you want to end up like Judge Salis's son?
At least 20 sent to homes in name of Judge Salis's late son Daniel. Order form had her murdered son's name.
They're weaponizing my baby boy. They're weaponizing Daniel's name to inflict fear on judges.
I have yet to see the attorney general or the deputy attorney general stand at a podium and denounce these forms of intimidation.
Attorney General Pam Bondi declined interview.
Judge Salis: Rule of law at stake.
I sit here as Daniel's mom, as a woman who lost her only child. Mark and I have been to hell and back. When I see that kind of irresponsible behavior coming from our political leaders and people in power, it makes me sad and it makes me very worried. Because I worry for our democracy.
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