Federal courts warned about possible security threats as election nears

Craig Nigrelli

WITH THE NOVEMBER ELECTION LESS THAN SIX WEEKS AWAY, A TOP SECURITY OFFICIAL IS WARNING JUDGES TO BE VERY AWARE THAT COURTHOUSES MIGHT BECOME TARGETS OF SECURITY THREATS. 

PAUL GAMBLE, THE HEAD OF SECURITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF U.S. COURTS, ISSUED A MEMO – REVIEWED BY REUTERS – SAYING FEDERAL COURTS ARE OFTEN TARGETED DURING INCREASED TIMES OF NATIONAL TENSION.  HE  POINTED OUT THAT **NO COURT FACILITIES ** HAD BEEN AFFECTED BY RECENT SECURITY EVENTS TIED TO AN ELECTION. 

THE MEMO DID SAY THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES HAD ALERTED THE COURTS ABOUT SECURITY CONCERNS RELATED TO THE UPCOMING ELECTION AND RECENT SUSPICIOUS LETTERS SENT TO STATE OFFICIALS. 

HE ADVISED THE COURTS TO TALK ABOUT POSSIBLE THREATS WITH THE U-S MARSHALS SERVICE AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN SECURITY PREPARATIONS – SPEAK WITH AUTHORITIES ABOUT TAKING PROTECTIVE MEASURES AND GO OVER EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS INCLUDING THE HANDLING OF MAIL. 

A REUTERS INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THREATS TO FEDERAL JUDGES, AS RECORDED BY THE U-S MARSHALS SERVICE, ROSE TO 457 IN 2023, UP FROM 224 IN 2021.  THE PROBE FOUND THAT THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS JUMPED RIGHT AROUND THE TIME OF THE CONTENTIOUS 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. 

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