Florida man indicted for ’86’ posts threatening to kill Alina Habba
A Florida man has been indicted for allegedly making threats to kill Alina Habba, the interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey, through a series of online “86” posts. The term “86” is interpreted by law enforcement officials to mean “get rid of.” Gregory W. Kehoe, the Interim U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida, announced the charges on Friday.
According to the indictment, Salvatore Russotto made threats to injure and kill the victim, who was identified as Alina Habba, in a series of online posts in May. Habba, who previously served as counselor to President Donald Trump, was targeted in the threatening posts by Russotto.
In the posts, Russotto referred to Habba using derogatory language and called for her elimination. He posted messages such as “A slow painful death for [VICTIM]. 86 that c***,” and “Eliminate [VICTIM]. 86 Traitor. Death penalty for all traitors.” Russotto was charged with transmission of an interstate threat to injure and retaliating against a federal law enforcement officer by threat.
FBI Director Kash Patel condemned the threatening behavior, calling it a dangerous example of copycat behavior inspired by former officials. He emphasized that the FBI will not tolerate political violence in any form and praised law enforcement partners in Florida for their swift action.
This indictment comes in the wake of Patel revealing that resources have been diverted to investigate “copycats” of potential threats to Trump following former FBI Director James Comey’s controversial “86 47” social media post. Patel expressed frustration at having to pull agents away from other important investigations to address threats against the president.
Comey, who is under investigation for the post, met with Secret Service officials to discuss the matter. The post, which showed seashells arranged on a beach to read “86 47,” sparked backlash and accusations of promoting violence. Comey later took down the post and claimed he was unaware of the violent connotations associated with the numbers.
Despite Comey’s explanation, Trump criticized him for the post, accusing him of knowing the implications of the numbers and suggesting they were a veiled call for assassination.
In conclusion, the threatening behavior towards Alina Habba and the subsequent investigations highlight the serious consequences of online threats and the need for law enforcement to address such behavior swiftly and decisively. It serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring the safety of those who serve our country.
