Texas woman sentenced to over two years for threatening Federal Judge in Trump case

A federal court in Houston has sentenced Abigail Jo Shry, 45, to 27 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release, after she admitted to making a racist and violent threat against U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan — the judge overseeing Donald Trump’s 2020 election interference case.

Shry pleaded guilty to transmitting an interstate threat, a federal offense, after leaving a vulgar voicemail for Judge Chutkan in August 2023, just hours after Chutkan was assigned to preside over Trump’s case related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

According to the Justice Department, Shry’s message threatened to kill anyone “who went after President Trump.”
Court filings indicate she used racial slurs, referred to Chutkan as a “slave,” and made threats against Democrats and the LGBTQ community.

Investigators traced the call to Shry through her cell phone number.

At her sentencing before Judge Keith Ellison, Shry apologized, calling her remarks “abhorrent” and “not reflective of my character or beliefs.”
She faced up to five years in prison, but federal guidelines often impose sentences below the maximum. Prosecutors had requested 33 months.

The Justice Department noted that while Shry admitted to making the call, she claimed she never intended to carry out her threats. However, she allegedly told investigators that if the Texas congresswoman she mentioned “ever traveled to her city, then we need to worry.”

The case underscores a broader national concern: threats against federal judges have surged sharply.
The U.S. Marshals Service reports that over 560 threats and inappropriate communications toward judges have been investigated this year — surpassing 2024 levels and nearing record highs.

Shry’s detention status was a point of contention. Initially held without bond, she was later released under strict conditions — including a ban on firearm possession and alcohol consumption — after prosecutors warned that her media consumption and alcohol use could lead to repeated offenses.

The case stands out as one of the lingering legal consequences stemming from the political tensions surrounding Trump’s 2020 election loss.
While Trump has issued numerous pardons and clemencies for supporters involved in related matters, Shry’s offense — a direct threat against the judiciary — remained outside the reach of such leniency.

Her conviction serves as a reminder of the federal government’s zero-tolerance policy toward threats against judicial officers, especially amid the polarized environment surrounding Trump’s ongoing legal battles.