A Texas woman has been apprehended on federal charges for allegedly threatening to kill an Obama-appointed judge and a Democratic congresswoman. The accused, Abigail Jo Shry, 43, hails from Alvin, Texas; her arrest sent ripples through the community.
The case revolves around Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, who is set to preside over former President Trump’s controversial 2020 election interference case.
Shry reportedly left a voicemail on August 5th, threatening the life of Judge Chutkan. This alarming incident raised concerns about the safety of public officials and escalating political tensions in the country.
US woman allegedly threatens to kill Jamaica-born judge on Trump casehttps://t.co/5A4iYsOn8w pic.twitter.com/9sgtRPywUD
— Loop Jamaica (@LoopJamaica) August 18, 2023
But the threats didn’t stop at Judge Chutkan. According to a criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Texas, Shry also targeted Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), using racially offensive slurs.
This blatant disregard for the dignity and safety of our elected officials is deeply troubling and raises questions about the state of political discourse in our nation.
The court document obtained by WUSA9 reveals the chilling details of the threats made during a phone call to Judge Chutkan’s chambers in Washington, DC.
The call, traced back to Shry’s phone number, included threats against the LGBTQ community and other Democratic parties.
The caller threatened to kill anyone who went after former President Trump, including a direct threat to kill Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, all Democrats in Washington D.C., and all people in the LGBTQ community.
— Donald V. Watkins (@donaldvwatkins) August 17, 2023
During a preliminary detention hearing on Monday, a federal judge in Texas decided to hold Shry without bond.
Magistrate Judge Sam S. Sheldon cited Shry’s recent criminal history in his detention order, noting she had been charged four times in the past year for engaging in conduct similar to the threats against Judge Chutkan and Rep. Lee.
This decision underscores the seriousness of the charges against Shry and the potential danger she poses to public officials.
The investigation into this case revealed the threatening call was made from a cellphone owned by Shry. When DHS special agents visited her residence in Alvin, Texas, Shry admitted she made the call to Judge Chutkan’s chambers.
However, she claimed she had no plans to travel to Washington, DC or Houston to carry out any of her threats.
