Florida Man Indicted For Death Threats Against Alina Habba

The Department of Justice revealed on Friday that a two-count indictment has been filed against a Florida man accused of issuing online threats to kill Alina Habba, the interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey.

The individual, identified as 58-year-old Salvatore Russotto from Orlando, is alleged to have posted a series of threats on the social media platform X. Law enforcement officials report that Russotto frequently employed the number “86” in his messages—a term that is often interpreted in law enforcement as a reference to assassination.

While the term “86” is generally used in the restaurant industry to signify that an item is no longer available, authorities indicate that it has also been co-opted as slang for the act of eliminating a person.

Russotto’s threatening messages included statements such as “Eliminate HABBA. 86 Traitor. Death penalty for all traitors” and “I HOPE YOU DIE A PAINFUL DEATH,” as noted in a press release from the DOJ.

The indictment against Salvatore Russotto comprises two charges: one count of threatening to injure and kill Alina Habba, the interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, and a second count of retaliating against a federal law enforcement officer through threats. If found guilty on both charges, Russotto could face a maximum of 10 years in federal prison.

The announcement of the charges was made by Greg Kehoe, the interim U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. His office did not disclose any information regarding Russotto’s motive for the threats, which were made on May 19. Notably, these posts coincided with the day Habba announced charges against Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) for allegedly obstructing federal officers outside an immigration facility in Newark, New Jersey.

McIver was part of a highly publicized confrontation last month, during which federal agents attempted to arrest Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. Initially, Habba charged Baraka with trespassing, but she later dismissed the case. Baraka has since initiated a lawsuit against Habba, claiming that the prosecution was politically motivated.

Earlier this week, Representative LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) entered a plea of not guilty to allegations of assaulting and obstructing officials from the Department of Homeland Security. Her trial is set to commence on November 10.

President Donald Trump appointed Alina Habba, who previously served as his White House counselor and personal attorney in various criminal matters, as the interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey in March. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Trump is anticipated to formally nominate her for the permanent position.

The indictment against Russotto was unsealed merely one month after former FBI Director James Comey ignited controversy with an Instagram post featuring seashells arranged to spell out “86 47.” This post was broadly interpreted as a subtle reference to the assassination of Trump, the 47th president.

Despite Comey’s prior experience in law enforcement, he asserted that he was unaware of the violent implications associated with those numbers. He also mentioned that the seashell arrangement was created by another individual. Nonetheless, Comey removed the post following public outcry.

Trump subsequently criticized Comey for what he deemed an unpersuasive explanation.

“He was fully aware of what that signified. Even a child understands its meaning,” Trump remarked to Fox News host Bret Baier in May. “If you are the FBI director and you are oblivious to its meaning, it clearly indicates ‘assassination.’ That message is loud and clear.”

FBI Director Kash Patel, who was appointed by President Trump, indicated that the agency is currently investigating several potential ‘copycat’ threats directed at the president and other officials in the administration following James Comey’s contentious post. Additionally, the FBI has initiated an inquiry into Comey regarding the alleged threat.

Patel commended the bureau’s initiatives in securing justice for Salvatore Russotto, describing it as a significant demonstration of the FBI’s dedication to safeguarding public officials.

“A perilous imitator, incited by irresponsible statements from former officials, posed a threat to those safeguarding our nation,” Patel stated on X. “Political violence is unacceptable here. I am proud of our [FBI Tampa] and grateful to our partners in Florida for their swift actions in achieving justice.”