A Florida man has been charged with threatening to kill Alina Habba, the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, wishing her a “slow painful death.”
Salvatore Russotto, 58, made the threats on May 19, said Gregory W. Kehoe, interim US Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, on Friday.
Russotto has been charged with one count of threatening to injure and kill a victim, as well as retaliating against a federal law enforcement officer through threats.
According to the indictment, the Orlando man made several online posts threatening Habba, an outspoken attorney who represented President Donald Trump personally between his first and second administrations.
The posts included calling Habba a vulgar word and requesting that someone “86” her, a slang term that, according to Merriam-Webster, means “get rid of,” but is frequently used maliciously — to mean “kill.”
Russotto is also said to have called Habba “useless” and a “traitor.”
“Death penalty for all traitors,” one post states, adding, “I HOPE YOU DIE A PAINFUL DEATH.”
A direct motive for the alleged posts was not provided.
The term “86” gained national attention in May when former FBI Director James Comey wrote on Instagram, “cool shell formation on my beach walk” in conjunction with a photo of shells forming the numbers “86 47.”
Trump supporters interpreted the message as a call for Trump’s assassination, given that he is the 47th president, and their strained relationship. Comey clarified in a follow-up post that he was not calling for violence.
Nonetheless, the situation piqued the interest of federal investigators, with both the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service launching investigations into the position, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced at the time.
FBI Director Kash Patel appeared to refer to Comey’s post while criticising Russotto’s alleged actions.
“This is yet another disturbing example of a dangerous copycat inspired by the reckless behaviour of former officials, targeting those who serve our country and threatening the very people working to keep America safe,” Patel explained to Fox News Digital. “Our FBI will not tolerate political violence in any form.”
