Man threatened to kill 'traitor' Alina Habba, DOJ says
Share and Follow

Trump attorney Alina Habba leaves New York Supreme Court on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023 in New York. (AP Photo/Brittainy Newman)

A Florida man has been accused of threatening to kill acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba, allegedly wishing for her to die a “slow painful death.”

Salvatore Russotto, 58, made the threats on May 19, interim U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Gregory W. Kehoe announced on Friday.

Russotto has been charged with one count each of threatening to injure and kill a victim and retaliating against a federal law enforcement officer by threat.

Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.

According to the indictment, the Orlando man made several posts online wishing for harm to be done against Habba, an outspoken attorney who represented President Donald Trump in his personal capacity in between his first and second administrations.

The posts included calling Habba a vulgar word and calling for someone to “86” her, a slang term that, according to Merriam-Webster, means “get rid of,” but which is often used more maliciously — to mean “kill.”

Russotto is also alleged to have called Habba “useless” and a “traitor.”

“Death penalty for all traitors,” one post reads, adding, “I HOPE YOU DIE A PAINFUL DEATH.”

A direct motive for the alleged posts was not given.

The term “86” became a matter of national attention when, in May, former FBI Director James Comey wrote on Instagram, “cool shell formation on my beach walk” in accompaniment of a photo that showed shells in the formation of the numbers “86 47.”

Trump supporters took the message to mean he was calling for Trump to be assassinated, as Trump is the 47th president, especially because of their fractured relationship. Comey wrote in a follow-up post that he was not calling for any violence.

Still, the situation heightened the alert of federal investigators, with both the Department of Homeland Security and Secret Service launching an investigation into the post, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced at the time.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Mother Admits Guilt in Tragic Case of Child’s Death to ‘Make Room’ for New Family

A Michigan mother, entangled in a tragic case that has captured the…

Adult Film Star on Trial for Alleged Murder of Husband’s Father

The trial of a Nevada adult film actress, charged with the gruesome…

Police Report: Tragic Incident as Baby Suffers After Mother Falls Asleep

Sarah Jamison (Bixby Police Department). In a tragic incident, an Oklahoma mother…

DOJ Takes SNAP Funding Dispute to First Circuit Court

Left: U.S. District Judge John McConnell (U.S. District Court for the District…

Teen Faces Justice: Sentencing in Tragic Head-On Crash that Claimed Six Lives

Background: News footage of the crash on Dec. 26, 2023 that killed…

False Allegation Leads to Shooting: Police Investigate Woman’s Deceptive Claim About Hidden Man

Patty Armour and Lois Armour (Ralls County Jail). When officers came to…

Authorities Report Triple Homicide: Suspect Accused of Fatal Neck Stabbing and Two Additional Murders

Inset: Adam Mercado (Mecklenburg County Sheriff”s Office). Background: The 1100 block of…

Police Report: Woman Sustains Head Injury in Alleged Screwdriver Attack

Inset: Manuel Arturo Alvarez (Murrieta Police Department). Background: A block of Old…