Unusual Pizza Deliveries Lead to Investigation into Judge Intimidation

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Federal judges nationwide are being targeted with anonymous pizza deliveries in what Senator Dick Durbin calls a threatening intimidation tactic, reminiscent of the tragic murder of Judge Esther Salas’s son by someone posing as a delivery person.

Quick Takes

Senator Durbin has urgently called on Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to investigate anonymous pizza deliveries to judges’ homes across the country
Some deliveries were made using the name of Judge Esther Salas’s murdered son, Daniel Anderl, as a chilling intimidation tactic
Supreme Court justices and judges handling cases related to the administration are among those targeted
Durbin warns these threats endanger not just judges and their families but also judicial independence and the rule of law

Judges Targeted with Ominous Food Deliveries

Federal judges across the nation are receiving unsolicited pizza deliveries at their homes, a tactic Senator Dick Durbin describes as a deliberate attempt to intimidate members of the judiciary. The situation has raised serious concerns about judicial safety, especially since some deliveries were made using the name of Daniel Anderl, the son of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas who was murdered in 2020 by a gunman posing as a delivery person. The targeted individuals reportedly include Supreme Court justices and judges handling cases related to the administration, suggesting an organized effort to threaten judicial officials.

Attorney General Pam Bondi acknowledged she was just learning about the situation when questioned. “I’m just learning about that,” Bondi told reporters, adding, “I’ll be talking to Ed [Martin] today and find out what’s going on with that.” Martin is the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. The FBI has referred inquiries about the pizza deliveries to the U.S. Marshals Service, which has declined to comment on the matter, raising questions about which agency is taking the lead on addressing these threats.

Senator Durbin’s Call for Immediate Investigation

In a strongly worded letter dated May 6, Senator Durbin, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged Attorney General Bondi and FBI Director Patel to take immediate action. The senator emphasized the serious nature of these threats and their potential implications for the judicial system. Durbin requested a briefing by May 20, 2025, and posed several specific questions regarding the number of deliveries, ongoing investigations, identified suspects, and protective measures being implemented to safeguard judges and their families.

Durbin said on his Senate website, “These incidents threaten not only judges and their families, but also judicial independence and the rule of law. It is imperative that the Justice Department (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigate these anonymous or pseudonymous deliveries and that those responsible be held accountable to the full extent of the law.”

Durbin also highlighted the critical role of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in protecting the judiciary and expressed concern about potential workforce reductions. “In the midst of increasing threats of violence against judges, it is inappropriate and unacceptable to reduce the size of the agency tasked with protecting the federal judiciary and the judicial process,” Durbin wrote, urging instead for maintaining or increasing the current number of USMS employees to ensure adequate protection for judges facing these growing threats.

Pattern of Threats and Safety Concerns

Judge Esther Salas has reported that hundreds of pizzas have been sent to judges nationwide, often late at night, creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. These deliveries serve as a chilling reminder that the senders know where the judges and their families live. Other judicial officials, including Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s family, have reportedly received similar strange deliveries and threats, indicating a widespread pattern targeting members of the judiciary at various levels of the court system.

Judge Salas asked, “What does that say to those judges? It says, ‘I know where you live, I know where your kids live, and do you want to end up like Judge Salas, do you want to end up like her son’?”

The Justice Department has not yet issued a formal comment on the situation. When questioned about the pizza deliveries, Attorney General Bondi indicated she would address the issue with interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin, stating, “Not yet, but we will.” The matter comes at a time when Bondi and FBI Director Patel are focused on multiple initiatives, including Operation Restore Justice targeting child sex predators, but the growing threats against judges may require immediate attention to prevent potential escalation into violence.