A Houston woman has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for leaving threatening voicemail messages aimed at a federal judge overseeing one of former President Donald Trump's legal battles.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida made this announcement on Friday, citing the charge of "using interstate communications to threaten, kidnap, or injure."
Houston woman who threatened judge overseeing Trump's Mar-a-Lago case sentenced to 3 years in prison https://t.co/uwAEcV7JBO
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) February 14, 2024
Tiffani Shea Gish, previously known for her menacing messages, targeted U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, as reported by CNN. Gish's messages included threats of assassinating Cannon in front of her family for her perceived support of the former president.
Judge Cannon was handling Trump's request for a special master to review documents seized from Mar-a-Lago.
Gish's guilty plea on November 9, 2023, solidified her involvement in the case. After her sentencing, U.S. District Judge David Hittner ordered Gish to undergo three years of supervised release, expressing concerns about public safety and the protection of the judiciary.
U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani stressed the significance of holding individuals like Gish accountable, particularly those who threaten the safety of those involved in upholding democratic institutions. He emphasized that such actions would not be tolerated.
Gish's arrest in September 2022 followed investigations that traced her cell phone number. During an interview at her Houston residence, conducted through a window, she admitted to leaving the threatening voicemails.
The escalation in threats occurred following the Mar-a-Lago search in 2022. Instances of violence against prominent figures, including U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, prompted heightened concerns.
The biography and contact information of the federal magistrate judge who authorized the search were removed from a Florida court's website due to threats.
Gish's case is part of a broader trend involving threats against judges and individuals involved in the legal proceedings against the former president.
Another incident involved a Texas woman who faced charges in August for threatening to kill the federal judge overseeing Trump's criminal case in Washington, DC, coupled with racist remarks directed at the judge, who is black.
These episodes underscore the challenges faced by those in the judicial system amid heightened political tensions, especially during a critical presidential election year.
The severity of Gish's sentence and the swift legal response reflect a commitment to safeguarding the integrity and safety of the legal process, even in the face of threats and intimidation.
