Trump attorney Alina Habba leaves New York Supreme Court on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023 in New York. (AP Photo/Brittainy Newman)
A Florida man has been accused of threatening to kill acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba, allegedly wishing for her to die a “slow painful death.”
Salvatore Russotto, 58, made the threats on May 19, interim U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Gregory W. Kehoe announced on Friday.
Russotto has been charged with one count each of threatening to injure and kill a victim and retaliating against a federal law enforcement officer by threat.
According to the indictment, the Orlando man made several posts online wishing for harm to be done against Habba, an outspoken attorney who represented President Donald Trump in his personal capacity in between his first and second administrations.
The posts included calling Habba a vulgar word and calling for someone to “86” her, a slang term that, according to Merriam-Webster, means “get rid of,” but which is often used more maliciously — to mean “kill.”
Russotto is also alleged to have called Habba “useless” and a “traitor.”
“Death penalty for all traitors,” one post reads, adding, “I HOPE YOU DIE A PAINFUL DEATH.”
A direct motive for the alleged posts was not given.
The term “86” became a matter of national attention when, in May, former FBI Director James Comey wrote on Instagram, “cool shell formation on my beach walk” in accompaniment of a photo that showed shells in the formation of the numbers “86 47.”
Trump supporters took the message to mean he was calling for Trump to be assassinated, as Trump is the 47th president, especially because of their fractured relationship. Comey wrote in a follow-up post that he was not calling for any violence.
Still, the situation heightened the alert of federal investigators, with both the Department of Homeland Security and Secret Service launching an investigation into the post, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced at the time.
FBI Director Kash Patel appeared to reference Comey’s post while denouncing Russotto’s alleged actions.
“This is yet another disturbing example of a dangerous copycat inspired by the reckless behavior of former officials, targeting those who serve our country and threatening the very people working to keep America safe,” Patel told Fox News Digital. “Our FBI will not tolerate political violence in any form.”
