A Texas woman was arrested Wednesday for threatening to kill the federal Judge presiding over former President Donald Trump’s 2020 election interference case in Washington, DC.
According to the indictment, Abigail Jo Shry called the chambers of US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan on August 5. She allegedly stated “you are in our sights, we want to kill you” and “we want to kill Sheila Jackson Lee.” After threatening to kill Chutkan and Sheila Jackson Lee, Shry allegedly stated “if Trump doesn’t get elected in 2024, we are coming to kill you, so tread lightly…” Shry then threatened to “kill all democrats in Washington DC” as well as “all people in the LGBTQ community.”
Two days after the call Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents conducted a “knock and talk” at Shry’s residence in Alvin, Texas. Shry admitted to DHS agents that she made the call to Judge Chutkan’s chambers. Shry told DHS agents that she had no plans to travel to Washington, DC, yet stated that “if Sheila Jackson Lee comes to Alvin, [Texas]” that DHS would “need to worry.”
Shry’s father testified at her detention hearing that Shry is non-violent and is suffering from substance use disorder. Shry’s detention order alleges Shry was already charged with making threats of bodily harm and was out on bond when she made the threats to Chutkan.
Shry is charged with violating 18 USC 875(c), which criminalizes communicating a threat to kidnap or injure a person across state lines. The maximum penalty is five years imprisonment.