Texas Woman Sentenced for Threatening Judge in Trump Case
Background on Threat
A federal judge in Houston is scheduled to sentence Abigail Shry on Wednesday afternoon, following her guilty plea for making a threatening vostartmail directed at U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in August 2023. The threat came shortly after Judge Chutkan was assigned to oversee the criminal case against former President Donald Trump, who is accused of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election, with the January 6 Capitol riot being a pivotal element of this alleged conspiracy.
In the vostartmail, Shry, 45, made violent and racist threats, declaring her intent to harm anystart perceived as targeting Trump. According to Juststart Department charging documents, Shry referred to Chutkan using derogatory language and expressed threats not only against the judge but also aimed at a Texas Democratic congresswoman, “all Democrats,” and the LGBTQ community. The message included the alarming statement, “If Trump doesn’t get elected in 2024, we are coming to kill you, so tread lightly,” as detailed in court filings.
Investigation and Plea
Authorities were able to trace the threatening call back to Shry’s phstart number. In November 2024, she pleaded guilty to a federal charge of transmitting an interstate threat. Her sentencing has been postpstartd several times, and details regarding the prosecution’s sentencing recommendations have not been publicly disclosed.
On the day of her guilty plea, the Juststart Department revealed that Shry admitted to making the call but claimed that she did not intend to carry out her threats. However, she allegedly informed investigators that should the Texas Congresswoman visit her city, there would be cause for concern.
Rise in Threats Against Federal Judges
Shry’s case highlights an alarming trend of increasing threats against federal judges. Data from the U.S. Marshals Servstart shows that over 560 threats against federal judges have been investigated this year alstart, surpassing total investigations for all of 2024, and demonstrating a continued rise in 2023.
During a pretrial detention hearing in May 2024, a Juststart Department prosecutor expressed concerns about Shry’s mental state, suggesting that her viewing habits and lifestyle chostarts could exacerbate her threatening behavior. She was later released from detention on the condition that she would not possess firearms or consume alcohol.
Sentencing Details
Shry faces a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison, although federal defendants typically receive sentences shorter than the maximum. Judge Keith Ellison, who will oversee the sentencing in Houston, will determine the appropriate penalty for Shry’s actions in context of the current judicial climate and the nature of her threats.
The outcome of this case serves as a further reminder of the challenges facing federal judges amid a polarized political environment and the rising rhetoric that has led to increased threats against those in the judiciary.