A Houston woman has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for leaving threatening voicemails for a judge overseeing one of Donald Trump’s legal battles. Tiffani Shea Gish’s messages targeted US District Judge Aileen Cannon, alleging she was assisting Trump and threatening her with assassination. Gish pleaded guilty in November 2023 to using interstate communications to threaten violence.
US District Judge David Hittner, upon sentencing, also ordered Gish to serve three years of supervised release, citing concerns for public safety and the judiciary’s protection. The severity of the sentence underscores the gravity of threats made against officials involved in legal proceedings.
Prosecutors emphasized the importance of holding individuals like Gish accountable, highlighting the threat posed to democratic institutions by those seeking to undermine them through intimidation and violence. Gish’s case is emblematic of a broader trend of escalating threats against officials connected to Trump’s legal challenges.
Gish’s arrest in September 2022 came amid a surge in threats following an FBI search at Mar-a-Lago. The incident prompted online threats against US Attorney General Merrick Garland and necessitated the removal of personal information from a federal judge’s biography due to safety concerns.
This case is not an isolated incident, as evidenced by another Texas woman’s arrest for threatening a federal judge overseeing Trump’s criminal case in Washington, DC. The woman, Abigail Jo Shry, left a voicemail threatening violence against the judge and making racist remarks.
These instances underscore the serious repercussions of threats against judges and officials involved in high-profile legal matters. They also reflect broader societal tensions and the polarization surrounding Trump’s legal battles and attempts to overturn election results.
