Senator Calls For Probe Into Mysterious Pizza Deliveries To Judges

Cheesy pizza slice being lifted from whole pizza.

Senator Durbin’s recent call to action reveals concerning threats to judges and the urgent need for federal investigation.

Quick Takes

Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have been urged to investigate threatening anonymous pizza deliveries to judges.
These deliveries are perceived as intimidation tactics, with references to the murder of Daniel Anderl, heightening the security alarm.
Targets include Supreme Court justices and judges dealing with high-profile cases, raising concerns about judicial independence.
Senator Durbin emphasizes the importance of protecting the judiciary and warns against reducing the U.S. Marshals Service workforce.

Threats Against Judges

Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel face increased pressure as Senator Durbin calls for an investigation into anonymous pizza deliveries to judges, perceived as threats. These incidents reference past attacks, such as the murder of Judge Esther Salas’s son by a deliveryman. Durbin highlights the security risks, stating, “These incidents threaten not only judges and their families, but also judicial independence and the rule of law.” This effort underscores the vital need for timely protective measures.

These targeted deliveries include Supreme Court justices and judges involved in high-profile cases. In some instances, deliveries were made using the name of Judge Salas’s murdered son, evoking grave concern. Senator Durbin stresses the profound implications for judicial independence and insists the Department of Justice act swiftly to preserve the integrity of the judicial system against such intimidation tactics.

Calls for Investigation and Action

Senator Durbin has requested that the Department of Justice and the FBI provide updates on their investigations into these threats. Emphasizing the U.S. Marshals Service’s crucial role in safeguarding the judiciary, he urges against any reduction in its workforce. The senator demands immediate intervention to uphold judicial independence, warning that, “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.”

“In recent months, federal judges and their relatives have received anonymous deliveries to their homes. These deliveries are threats intended to show that those seeking to intimidate the targeted judge know the judge’s address or their family members’ addresses,” said Durbin.

Senator Durbin insists that Attorney General Bondi and Director Patel assess whether DOJ or FBI require additional resources to secure judges against such threats. He seeks assurances about force size, emphasizing protection in light of ongoing dangers. Bondi, aware of missing files tied to other cases, is keenly watching these incidents, seeking to respond appropriately to these unsolicited deliveries.

🍕The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday called on the Justice Department and FBI to investigate a series of anonymous pizza deliveries made to the homes of federal judges in recent months, saying they appeared to be part of a wave of threats against the… pic.twitter.com/7tIUWZCPUm

— Melissa Hallman (@dotconnectinga) May 6, 2025

Judicial Integrity Under Threat

These alarming tactics targeting judges’ residences are reported as intrusive by many, involved in judicial processes, including Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s family. Such intimidation highlights the insecure environment threats like these create. Highlighted by Senator Durbin, these troubling incidents reflect the severity of these attacks on the judiciary, necessitating strong, immediate countermeasures to maintain a fair, independent judicial system.

Senator Durbin published this statement on his website, saying, “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.”

The importance of Judge Salas’s experience underscores the need for intervention, but solutions remain fluid. The judiciary’s independence and security must coexist with strengthened protective protocols to deter such acts from compromising judicial functions. As federal investigation proceeds, the focus lies on preserving democracy’s cornerstone: an unbiased, secure judiciary.