The FBI is collaborating with Colorado law enforcement to investigate alleged threats made against state Supreme Court Justices who decided to remove Donald Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot.
Denver police said on Tuesday that they were increasing patrols outside state justices’ houses in the aftermath of Colorado’s top court’s 4-3 decision that the former US president should be barred from running for President in 2024.
The ruling, issued on December 19, cited a provision in the US Constitution that prohibits anyone who has participated in an insurgency from running for office. Trump is accused of violating this article with his conduct leading up to and during the January 6, 2021 election.
“The Denver Police Department is currently investigating incidents directed at Colorado Supreme Court justices and will continue working with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to investigate any reports of threats or harassment,” a police statement said on Tuesday.
Separately, the FBI stated that it is “aware of the situation” and is “working with local law enforcement.” Neither the police nor the FBI commented on the exact nature of the present investigations.
Following the court’s decision, personal information about the judges, including addresses and phone numbers, was shared online, according to the BBC, including on X (previously Twitter), Telegram, and the Trump-owned Truth Social.
According to the BBC, one such post called for violence against the judges. “If you live in Colorado, do what the founding fathers would actually want.” Take out your weapons and some rope.” The Denver police department also stated that it was called to the residence of one of the state justices last Thursday “on what appears to be a domestic incident.”
Another comment, seemingly in response to the Colorado ruling, urged all “robed rats” to “hang.”
Trump has until January 4 to file an appeal against Colorado’s decision. Legal commentators think that the state’s decision will have a difficult time getting through the conservative-leaning US Supreme Court.
Several of Trump’s challengers for the Republican presidential nomination have claimed that they believe the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision was politically motivated. Some Democrats have expressed concern that the verdict will give Trump more ammo to allege that the US legal system and the Biden administration are unfairly targeting him.
