Sen Durbin urges DOJ, FBI to investigate anonymous pizza deliveries to federal judges

Democrat Sen. Dick Durbin is urging the Justice Department and FBI to investigate anonymous pizza deliveries being sent to federal judges.

Durbin, the Senate minority whip, sent a letter Tuesday to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, asking for investigations to be opened into incidents in which the intimidation tactics appear to have been used.

Federal judges and their families have been receiving anonymous deliveries at their homes from those trying to intimidate them by showing that they know their addresses, according to Dubin's office. Some of those targeted are reportedly Supreme Court justices, judges handling legal cases involving the Trump administration, and judges' children.

Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee said in a hearing Monday that "hundreds, hundreds of pizzas have been delivered to the homes of judges and their families, including at least ten sent in the name of Daniel Anderl, the murdered son of Judge Salas."

"Many of these judges who have received pizzas are presiding over legal challenges to Trump administration actions," he also said.

U.S. District Judge Esther Salas’s son, Daniel Anderl, was murdered in 2020 at their home by a former litigant posing as a deliveryman.

"I request that you immediately investigate these deliveries," Durbin wrote in his letter. "In the event you have already initiated investigations, I request an update on those efforts. I also ask that you provide information on any steps that DOJ or the FBI have taken to protect the judges and their families who have received anonymous or pseudonymous deliveries and to prevent further anonymous or pseudonymous deliveries and other threats."

Durbin also noted that the U.S. Marshals Service plays an essential role in protecting federal judges, and urged the DOJ and FBI to ensure the agency's workforce isn't reduced. This request follows a letter reportedly sent by USMS Acting Director Mark P. Pittella last month to more than 5,000 USMS employees offering them the opportunity to resign.

“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. Accordingly, I ask you to commit to fully supporting USMS and to maintaining or increasing its current number of employees,” he wrote.