A Texas woman, Abigail Jo Shry, has been arrested and charged with threatening the federal judge overseeing the criminal case against former President Donald Trump in Washington, as well as a member of Congress. Court records show that Shry called the federal courthouse in Washington and left a threatening message, using a racist term for U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, on August 5. After tracing her phone number, investigators confirmed that Shry admitted to making the threatening call.
During the call, Shry reportedly told Judge Chutkan, who is presiding over the election conspiracy case against Trump, “You are in our sights, we want to kill you.” Prosecutors also allege that Shry made threats against U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Texas Democrat running for mayor of Houston, stating, “If Trump doesn’t get elected in 2024, we are coming to kill you.”
As a result of her actions, a judge ordered Shry to be jailed. She is currently represented by the Houston public defender’s office. Trump has criticized Judge Chutkan in the past, referring to her as “highly partisan” and “VERY BIASED & UNFAIR!” due to her previous comments regarding a separate case related to the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
During a recent hearing, Judge Chutkan imposed a protective order in the case, limiting the public disclosure of evidence by prosecutors and Trump’s legal team. She emphasized that Trump’s defense should be presented in the courtroom rather than on the internet.
