Esther Salas Pleads For Stronger Protection Of Federal Judges After Son’s Murder
A federal judge whose son was killed and husband injured after a gunman opened fire into her New Jersey home last month spoke out for the first time since the shooting in an emotional video.
Through tears, U.S. District Judge Esther Salas described the moments leading up to her son’s death and said she believes she was the intended target of the attack because of her position. She pleaded for stronger protection of federal judges, including restricting public access to their personal information.
“My son’s death cannot be in vain,” Salas said, “which is why I am begging those in power to do something to help my brothers and sisters on the bench. Now more than ever, we need to identify a solution that keeps the lives of federal judges private.”
Watch Salas’ video:
Investigators believe Roy Den Hollander, a self-described “anti-feminist” lawyer who had a case before Salas, showed up to her home in North Brunswick, New Jersey, on July 19 dressed as a FedEx delivery driver.
In her video, Salas said she had been in the basement with her son, 20-year-old Daniel Anderl, when Den Hollander rang the doorbell. Anderl went upstairs to answer the door and was immediately fired upon. Her husband, criminal defense attorney Mark Anderl, was shot three times and remains hospitalized.
Hours after the shooting, police discovered the body of Den Hollander, 72, along a road in upstate New York. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, investigators said.
Den Hollander reportedly carried with him a list of more than a dozen possible targets, including Salas, three other female judges and a rival men’s rights attorney named Marc Angelucci.
Eight days before opening fire at Salas’ home, Den Hollander shot Angelucci outside his home in San Bernadino County, California, investigators said.
The ambush on Salas’ family came amid a skyrocketing number of threats against federal judges, whose security is overseen by the U.S. Marshals...
