News Summary
Salvatore Russotto, a 58-year-old from Orlando, was arrested for making online threats against U.S. Attorney Alina Habba. The FBI traced threats back to him, leading to serious charges. If convicted, he could face 10 years in prison. His threats were linked to legal actions against a congresswoman, highlighting rising violent rhetoric against government officials. Despite no prior criminal history, the case underscores the seriousness of online threats and their impact on free speech accountability.
Orlando – Salvatore Russotto, a 58-year-old man from Orlando, was arrested on Friday morning for making online death threats against Alina Habba, the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. The arrest followed an investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service, which traced the threats made on May 19, 2025, to Russotto’s IP address.
The indictment was disclosed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and charged Russotto with two serious offenses: transmitting a threat to injure and retaliating against a federal law enforcement officer by threatening. If found guilty, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
During his first court appearance at 1:30 p.m. on the day of his arrest, Russotto was released on bond. However, certain conditions were imposed on his release, including being barred from accessing social media platforms and the requirement to surrender his passport. This measure was deemed necessary to prevent any further threats or acts of retaliation.
The threats made by Russotto included explicit messages such as “Eliminate HABBA. 86 Traitor. Death penalty for all traitors,” and “A slow painful death for HABBA.” These posts were reportedly made in retaliation for Habba’s office taking legal actions against U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), an action announced by Habba on the same day the threats were posted. It is alleged that McIver was involved in an incident related to the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka at an immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey.
In the course of the incident, Mayor Baraka was arrested, and a trespassing charge against him was initially pursued by Habba’s office but was later dropped. Meanwhile, McIver is facing charges that accuse her of impeding law enforcement during Baraka’s arrest, resulting in an indictment on two counts of assaulting federal officers. McIver has maintained her innocence, pleading not guilty to all counts related to the situation.
U.S. Attorney Greg Kehoe highlighted that threats analogous to those made by Russotto reflect a disturbing trend of rising violent rhetoric aimed at government officials within digital platforms. While the DOJ acknowledges that not all online expressions constitute a crime, specific threats against individuals are treated with utmost seriousness by law enforcement authorities. This case underscores the federal government’s commitment to addressing online threats with the same urgency as physical threats.
Despite Russotto having no prior criminal history, the seriousness of the charges stemming from his online actions not only impacts him but also serves as a broader warning regarding the potential consequences of similar behaviors in the digital age. The case reinforces the DOJ’s emphasis on maintaining peace and security in government interactions, particularly as it pertains to protecting those in positions of authority.
Scheduled for July 3, 2025, Russotto’s arraignment will mark the next step in addressing the serious allegations against him. At this point, the focus of the indictment remains solely on Russotto’s threats directed at U.S. Attorney Habba, without direct mention of the related figures, Rep. McIver or Mayor Baraka. The outcome of this case may further inform discussions regarding the balance of free speech and accountability in the age of social media.
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Additional Resources
- WTSP News
- Wikipedia: Alina Habba
- Fox 13 News
- Google Search: Online threats against federal officials
- Live Now Fox
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Threat
- Orlando Sentinel
- Google News: Salvatore Russotto threats
- Washington Examiner
- Google Scholar: Online death threats
- Florida Voice News
