This federal judge ruled against Trump. Then the threats began.
In an August 5 profile, The Washington Post reported on Chief U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. of Rhode Island, who spoke publicly about credible death threats and harassment he and his family have received after ruling against the administration. McConnell described the doxxing of his daughter and impeachment efforts launched by members of Congress in response to his decisions. The account situates his experience within a broader surge of intimidation directed at federal judges — the U.S. Marshals Service recorded 564 threats against federal judges in fiscal year 2025 — following a pattern in which judges rule against the administration, are publicly attacked by officials, and then face threats. The article illustrates how personal intimidation is being used to pressure the judiciary and erode judicial independence.