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A Minnesota resident, previously imprisoned for 18 months due to threats against a federal judge, was apprehended once more for repeating the offense. This time, it was detailed in a 236-page document titled “How to Kill a Federal Judge.”
As per the US Attorney’s Office in Minnesota, the case unfolded on September 5 when staff members at the Wayzata Library alerted law enforcement about a man producing copies of the lengthy manifesto. The individual, identified as 72-year-old Robert Phillip Ivers, showed the manifesto to the library staff, featuring a section discussing killing children along with an image of a gun.
The US Attorney’s Office reported, “Ivers distributed a three-page ‘flyer’ promoting his manifesto before departing the library.” The flyer claimed that the manifesto “is designed to teach extremists how to plan, train, hunt, stalk, and execute individuals, including judges and their families, political figures, and more!” It further declared, “the harsh reality is that judges are going to die.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson commented, “At a time when Minnesota is grappling with violence, the last thing we need is the spread of fear in our communities. Ivers’s threats are chilling. Given recent events, we are taking no chances. We take threats seriously and will act decisively to ensure the safety of Minnesotans.”
Recently, a shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic church resulted in the deaths of two children and injuries to 14 others. Three adults were also harmed, with the shooter subsequently taking his own life. In June, Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed, and state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were injured by an individual targeting officials. Vance Boelter, 57, was eventually apprehended and charged.
Authorities noted that Ivers had exhibited “concerning behavior” at a church potluck in Minnetonka last month. He mentioned plans to attend several future events at the church. Church officials flagged him after researching his online history, uncovering previous violent threats, a felony record, and racist remarks.
Wayzata Police found him on September 3 and arrested him, but while he was being transported to jail, he claimed he was having a heart attack and was taken to a hospital. He was released later that night.
Officers searched Ivers’ vehicle, where the found a photo of Pope Francis with crosshairs centered on his head, 20 copies of his spiral bound “How to Kill a Federal Judge,” flyers advertising the book, lists of federal judges, a copy of “The Anarchist Cookbook,” a white foam box containing a toy replica firearm, a box of carbon dioxide cartidges, a container of pellets, and a box of fireworks.
Ivers was rearrested on September 5 and admitted to showing library staff his book. When a detective asked if he expected his book would scare anybody, he shouted, “It was supposed to!”
The manifesto features a photo of man holding a rifle on the cover and discussed the wrongs he believes the federal judicial system did to him as well as his plans for revenge. He appears “fixated” on one particular judge — although the manifesto mentions several — who presided over his 2019 trial for threatening to kill another federal judge.
“Threats of violence directed at federal judges not only undermine the integrity of our legal system but also pose a grave risk to the principles of justice and democracy,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners consider all threats of violence against judges, or any public servants, with grave seriousness.”
Ivers made a initial appearance in court and was remanded to jail pending a bond hearing on Friday, Law&Crime reported. He is charged with threatening to assault and kill a federal judge.