Unusual Pizza Deliveries Spur Senator’s Call For Judicial Investigation

Senator Dick Durbin calls for federal investigation into ominous pizza deliveries aimed at judges, citing potential threats to judicial security.

Key Insights

Attorney General Pam Bondi acknowledges reports of anonymous pizza deliveries to judges’ residences, seen as intimidation.
Senator Durbin insists the DOJ and FBI investigate these incidents, viewing them as threats.
Targeted individuals include Supreme Court justices and judges connected to governmental cases.
Deliveries referenced Judge Esther Salas’s son, who was murdered, amplifying concern.
Durbin underscores a threat to judicial independence and rule of law.

Threatening Deliveries Reported

Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed awareness of reports regarding anonymous pizza deliveries to the homes of federal judges. These deliveries are perceived as intimidation tactics. Alongside Durbin’s call to action, Bondi is evaluating the situation. Current concerns echo the murder of Daniel Anderl, son of Judge Esther Salas, who was killed by a deliveryman-turned-assailant. Such incidents highlight the potential danger posed by these anonymous deliveries.

Durbin’s appeal was prompted by information linking these deliveries to fears within the judicial community regarding personal and family safety. Numbering in the hundreds nationally, these deliveries aim to convey that those responsible know the addresses of the judges or their relatives, thus escalating the perceived threat.

Judicial Safety in Question

Durbin’s request to the Department of Justice and the FBI demands that a comprehensive investigation be launched immediately. His letter to Attorney General Bondi and FBI Director Patel expressed urgency in addressing this issue. According to Durbin, “These incidents threaten not only judges and their families but also judicial independence and the rule of law.” The correspondence highlights a pressing need for an update on protective measures for judges under threat.

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.

Inquiries on the matter were redirected to the U.S. Marshals Service by the FBI, with no comments provided. Similarly, Bondi has withheld immediate comments but anticipates discussions with Ed Martin, interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, to gather further insights on this developing issue.

🍕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

Calls for Comprehensive Measures

Durbin highlights the importance of the U.S. Marshals Service in mitigating risks facing the judiciary. He insists on upholding or expanding the workforce to address compounding threats. Durbin’s letter outlines several questions pertaining to the scale of these deliveries, investigative progress, and the individuals or groups responsible. Furthermore, he seeks confirmatory reassurances that the Marshals Service will maintain or increase its current staffing levels to combat ongoing threats effectively.

Accordingly, I request that you immediately investigate these deliveries. 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.

Judge Salas affirmed that the senders of these deliveries exhibit knowledge of judicial residences, elevating concerns about their safety. As federal authorities delve into these troubling occurrences, insights from ongoing investigations are awaited, with a forthcoming briefing requested by May 20, 2025.