Prosecutors: Man Wrote Document on Plans to Harm Federal Judges

A 72-year-old Minnesota resident has been detained after allegedly crafting a manifesto called “How to Kill a Federal Judge,” and reportedly displaying the chilling document to staff at a nearby library where he went to duplicate it.

Robert Phillip Ivers was taken into custody last week and charged with threatening to assault and murder a federal judge, authorities announced.

“With Minnesota still grappling with incidents of violence, what we least require is someone instilling fear across our sacred spaces, libraries, and judicial arenas,” interim U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson stated in a press release following the apprehension of Ivers. “Ivers’s threats are undoubtedly alarming. Given recent events, we are not taking any risks. We are determined to swiftly protect Minnesotans when threats to our community arise.”

Ivers in 2019 was convicted of threatening to kill a federal judge and was subsequently sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.

As detailed in the criminal complaint within the U.S. District Court of Minnesota, law enforcement responded on Sept. 3 to the Wayzata Library after a report emerged of a man — subsequently identified as Ivers — producing copies of his extensive 236-page manifesto.

Investigations revealed that Ivers not only presented the manifesto to the library personnel but included a particular page mentioning “killing children” alongside a firearm illustration. He allegedly also distributed a three-page “flyer” promoting his manifesto to staff before departing the library.

According to the prosecution, the flyer indicated that his manifesto “serves as a guide for extremists on how to strategize, prepare, track, shadow, and assassinate anyone, including judges, their families, politicians, and others!”

“The harsh reality is that judges are going to die,” the work allegedly said.

Later that evening, authorities located Ivers and took him into custody. During a search of his vehicle, investigators reportedly recovered the following items:

(1) a photo of the former Pope with crosshairs centered on his head; (2) twenty copies of a spiral bound printed book titled, “How to Kill a Federal Judge” by Robert Ivers; (3) multiple copies of flyers advertising the contents of the book; (4) lists of federal judges; (5) a copy of the Anarchist Cookbook; (6) a white foam box containing a toy replica firearm, a box of Co2 cartridges, and a container of pellets; and (7) a box of fireworks.

Prosecutors said the manifesto focused on “perceived wrongs” done to Ivers by the judicial system.

“He discussed these wrongs — and his anticipated revenge — at length,” the release states. “The manifesto contains various types of writings and many disturbing sketches, apparently drawn by Ivers. The manifesto also contains handwritten threats to kill, including threats to kill judges, as well as their children and pets.”

Additionally, prosecutors said Ivers made clear that the purpose of his manifesto “was to instill fear.”

“If this book doesn’t instill fear in you then your already dead,” he allegedly wrote.

The release says that among the “many” federal judges named in the manifesto, Ivers was particularly “fixated” on the judge who presided over his previous federal trial and the judge he was previously convicted of threatening to kill.

“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. These actions will not be tolerated. As this chilling case confirms, we are fully committed to protecting judges who devote themselves to our communities and legal system.”

Ivers made his initial appearance in court on Tuesday and was ordered to remain in detention pending a bond hearing on Friday.