Man is accused of sending hundreds of threatening emails and voicemails to judges, public officials

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Man is accused of sending hundreds of threatening…

Criminal Justice Man is accused of sending hundreds of threatening emails and voicemails to judges, public officials

By Debra Cassens Weiss

September 28, 2023, 4:45 pm CDT

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This photo was submitted as part of the criminal complaint against Jonathan Lipman. The complaint states the photo, which appears to show a gun on a bed, was emailed to a New Jersey judge. (Photo from court documents)

A Los Angeles man is facing a federal charge for allegedly threatening and harassing New Jersey judges and public officials in hundreds of emails and voicemails.

Jonathan Lipman was charged in a Sept. 25 complaint with making threats through interstate communications. NJ.com (via X), Law360, Bloomberg Law and Above the Law have coverage.

One of the communications was a photo of a gun, emailed to a New Jersey judge with the subject line “Is a photo illegal?” and a “;)” emoji in the body of the email, according to the complaint and probable cause affidavit posted by Bloomberg.

In many of the emails, “Lipman wrote in explicit detail” how he hoped judges and public officials “would die painful, gruesome and violent deaths,” the affidavit says.

Lipman’s home state is New Jersey. He is accused of embarking on his campaign of threats after he posted threatening content on the Facebook page of a New Jersey police department, leading to a temporary and then a final extreme risk protective order. The orders banned Lipman from possessing guns.

Lipman sent the gun photo to the judge who signed the final order. The other judge was also among those allegedly targeted in his emails.

Lipman has asserted he was bullied and subjected to antisemitism while in public school in New Jersey, and he blames officials there for failing to prevent it, according to a source who spoke with NJ.com.

The ABA has supported legislation to increase security for judges and their families. In February, the House of Delegates passed a resolution urging that there be studies on the traumatic impact of violence and threats on court workers and their loved ones.

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