A Texas woman is facing federal charges for allegedly threatening to kill the Washington, D.C.-based judge overseeing one of former President Donald Trump’s criminal cases.
Federal investigators said in a criminal complaint filed last week that Abigail Jo Shry of Alvin, Texas, left a voicemail on Aug. 5 threatening to kill U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX). Shry has been arrested for similar conduct in the past and convicted at least twice.
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In the voicemail to Chutkan’s chambers, a caller reportedly said, “Hey, you stupid slave,” followed by a racial epithet. The caller then threatened to kill anyone who went after Trump, including a “direct threat” to Lee, “all Democrats in Washington, D.C., and all people in the LGBTQ community,” investigators said.
The caller further stated, “You are in our sights, we want to kill you,” and “We want to kill Sheila Jackson Lee,” adding, “If Trump doesn’t get elected in 2024, we are coming to kill you, so tread lightly, b****.”
The caller continued, “You will be targeted personally, publicly, your family, all of it,” the complaint stated.
After investigators determined the phone number belonged to Shry, she admitted to Department of Homeland Security investigators that she left the voicemail, according to the complaint.
“Shry stated that she had no plans to travel to Washington, D.C. or Houston to carry out anything she stated, adding that if Shelia Jackson Lee comes to Alvin, then we need to worry,” the complaint stated.
Shry is charged with one count of transmitting a threat to injure another person, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison.
Magistrate Judge Sam S. Sheldon ruled on Monday that Shry would be held without bond during a preliminary detention hearing. A bond hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 13.
In the detention order, Sheldon noted that Shry had been charged four times in the past year for engaging in similar conduct, including at least two cases that resulted in a conviction. She was on bond for a separate misdemeanor threat of causing fear of imminent serious bodily injury when she allegedly called Chutkan’s office.
Chutkan, a 2014 appointee of former President Barack Obama, was assigned to Trump’s case brought by special counsel Jack Smith on Aug. 1. The former president was charged with four counts relating to conspiracy to defraud the government and obstruct the certification of the 2020 election.
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Republicans have blasted Chutkan’s appointment, as she is known to deliver longer-than-recommended sentences for Jan. 6 rioters and donated to Obama’s campaign before being nominated for the federal judicial position.
Chutkan has since received increased security due to the comments from Trump and others calling on her to recuse herself and accusing her of being biased.
