WASHINGTON – A man from Alaska has been charged for making “atrocious” threats to torture and murder six Supreme Court justices as well as some of their family members.

Panos Anastasiou, 76, was apprehended on Wednesday in Anchorage, according to an announcement by the Justice Department made on Thursday.

Prosecutors indicated that he transmitted over 465 messages to the Supreme Court through its public site, some of which included violent, racist, and homophobic language along with threats involving torture, hanging, and the use of firearms.

“We assert that the defendant issued repeated and horrendous threats to kill and torture Supreme Court Justices and their families due to his dissatisfaction with their decisions,” stated Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The health of our democracy relies on public officials being able to perform their duties without fearing for their safety or that of their loved ones.”

Garland did not specify which justices were threatened. There are six justices appointed by Republican presidents that frequently align when the court’s decisions reflect ideological divisions.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court asked Congress for an additional $19.4 million to enhance security due to “growing risks” and changes needed to better protect the homes of the justices.

The extra funding is needed to enable the Supreme Court Police to fully take over the 24/7 security of justices’ residences from the U.S. Marshals Service, as outlined in a budget request to Congress by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

In 2022, Garland authorized the Marshals Service to provide round-the-clock protection for the justices amid a surge in threats and protests that ensued after a draft opinion was leaked which proposed overturning the landmark abortion ruling Roe v. Wade.

President Joe Biden signed a law swiftly passed by Congress that expands security protections for the families of the justices.

At a recent judicial conference, Justice Amy Coney Barrett mentioned her son’s realization that she was wearing a bulletproof vest.

Barrett did not elaborate on the reasons for this security measure. However, a Nevada man awaiting trial for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot allegedly threatened Barrett earlier this year after she expressed dissent regarding the court’s decision that narrowed how prosecutors can charge individuals involved in the Jan. 6 events.

Bradley Nelson reportedly shared a social media post featuring an image of Barrett with a message suggesting that someone should cut her throat “from ear to ear,” according to a court filing.

In June 2022, a man from California was arrested near Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home while armed with a gun and a knife, accused of threatening the justice. He has pleaded not guilty.

In December, another man from Florida pleaded guilty to making threats against Chief Justice Roberts.

In the case concerning Anastasiou from Alaska, he faces nine counts of making threats against a federal judge and 13 counts of making threats that involve interstate commerce. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison for each threat against a judge and five years for each interstate commerce-related threat.