Man accused of threatening to kill Supreme Court justices in slew of online messages wants his cellphone back
The Alaskan man accused of threatening to torture and kill six US Supreme Court Justices in online messages wants his cellphone back — claiming he needs it for his safety, according to new court papers.Panos Anastasiou, 76, was released without bail last month in the case charging him with sending hundreds of menacing messages through the high court’s website.But a judge put conditions on Anastasiou’s release, including barring him from using an internet-enabled phone.
But Anastasiou’s lawyer is asking a judge to lift the cell phone restriction, noting that Anastasiou was filmed by a local news network outside his home “in a manner that plainly identified” his house, according to the Monday filing.Anastasiou also needs his phone to connect to his home security system so he can see a video feed of any people who may come by his house, the letter by defense attorney Jane Imholte says.“Mr.
Anastasiou lives alone in a high-crime neighborhood,” Imholte wrote.“He has an extensive home security system that he can only access with an internet-connected phone or computer.
When the lights outside indicate the cameras have been triggered, Mr.Anastasiou has no way of knowing by what or whom.”Imolte said her client needs his phone to schedule doctors appointments as they “monitor the progression of his cancer.”Anastasiou was arrested in Anchorage on 22 federal charges alleging he sent 465 alarming messages through the Supreme Court’s website between March 10 and July 16.
Court papers do not identify which judges Anastasiou’s messages were aimed at but details from the threats indicate his targets included Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas.Two of the messages also threatened former President Donald Trump — though the charges aren’t specifically tied to the Trump messages.In some of the disturbing missives — which include threats of lynching and shooting — Anastasiou said he’d find the justices at their homes and kill them, court...