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Gunman Kills New Jersey Judge Esther Salas’ Son in Their Home, Injures Husband

Published

2 years ago

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  • A gunman reportedly dressed as a FedEx Employee fatally shot U.S. District Judge Esther Salas’ son and injured her husband in their New Jersey home Sunday. Salas was home in the basement at the time but was unharmed.
  • Investigators searched for the shooter late Sunday and early Monday and later said a potential suspect in the case was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
  • Salas has received threats in the past and has worked on several high profile cases, including one involving a Real Housewife and others related to big New Jersey gangs. Just last week, she was assigned to a Jeffrey Epstein-related lawsuit against Deutsche Bank.
  • Authorities have not yet identified a motive, however, reports say the suspect was an attorney and self-described anti-feminist who brought a case before Judge Salas in 2015.

Shooting at Judge’s Home

After the son of a federal judge in New Jersey was shot and killed Sunday, authorities believe they may have identified a suspect in the shooting, who was also found dead. 

A gunman appeared at U.S. District Judge Esther Salas’ house in North Brunswick, allegedly dressed as a FedEx delivery person. Salas’ 20-year-old son, Daniel, opened the door with his father, Mark Anderl behind him. The gunman then shot both of them, killing Daniel and injuring Mark. He fled the scene and the Newark division of the FBI said a search was underway Sunday evening. 

On Monday morning, officials said a potential suspect tied to the case was found dead. According to NBC News in New York, officials found that an attorney believed to be the shooter in the case had died of a self-inflicted gun wound in the Catskills. Authorities are investigating whether or not a package addressed to Judge Salas is tied to this attorney.

That attorney was later identified as Roy Den Hollander, a self-described anti-feminist. He brought a case before Judge Salas in 2015.

Judge Salas’ High Profile Cases

Salas was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2010 and was confirmed in 2011, making her New Jersey’s first Hispanic woman to serve as a U.S. District Judge. Since serving in this role, she has handled several high-profile cases, including one involving Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice and her husband Joe. She sentenced them both to staggered sentences on fraud charges. 

She also handled cases involving members of the Grape Street Crips, which were in connection to a long-running drug trafficking network. In 2016 she sentenced a leader of the Grape Street Crips to 14 years in prison. She also sentenced a leader of the South Side Cartel, which has been described as one of the most violent gangs in Newark, to 45 years in prison. 

Just last week, she was assigned to a lawsuit filed against Deutsche Bank by numerous investors. The lawsuit alleges that the bank “made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Bank’s business, operational and compliance policies.”

It also claims that the bank failed to properly monitor high risk customers, including Jeffrey Epstein. 

Authorities have not identified a motive in this case, and are still looking into whether or not Salas herself may have been the target. According to ABC News, she has received threats in the past. Investigators are looking into whether or not those threats are tied to the shooting. 

Responses

“As a judge, she had threats from time to time, but everyone is saying that recently there had not been any,” North Brunswick Mayor Francis “Mac” Womack told ABC.

Leaders in New Jersey responded to the news by sending condolences to Salas and her family. Governor Phil Murphy called the shooting a “senseless act.”

New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez said he hopes those responsible for this are “swiftly apprehended and brought to justice.”

See what others are saying: (NBC News) (ABC News) (Associated Press)
Update: This article was edited to include updated information about the suspect’s identity.

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Kathy Griffin, Ethan Klein, More Suspended From Twitter Over Elon Musk Impersonations

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3 weeks ago

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November 7, 2022

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Many have pretended to be Musk in an attempt to highlight the potential issues paid-for verifications could cause on the platform.

Musk Takes on Impersonations

Comedian Kathy Griffin and internet personality Ethan Klein are among the many Twitter users that have been permanently suspended for impersonating the platform’s new CEO, Elon Musk.

Impersonation has long been against Twitter’s rules, but on Sunday, the billionaire took the policy a step further by announcing that “any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying ‘parody’ will be permanently suspended.”

“Previously, we issued a warning before suspension, but now that we are rolling out widespread verification, there will be no warning,” Musk explained. “This will be clearly identified as a condition for signing up to Twitter Blue.”

Musk also said that any user who changes their name will temporarily lose their verification check mark. 

The announcement came as many verified users began mocking Musk by changing their name and photo to match his, then tweeting jokes that were either absurd or out of character for the business mogul. Many did this to protest Musk’s plan to charge an $8 monthly subscription fee that would allow any Twitter user to become verified. 

Klein was one of many who changed his name to “Elon Musk” and made a photo of the CEO his profile image. The podcast host sent out several jokes, including one referencing the increased use of the N-word on the platform since Musk’s takeover, and another referencing Jeffrey Epstein.

“Even though Jeffrey Epstein committed horrible crimes, I do still miss him on nights like this for his warmth and camaraderie. Rest In Peace old Friend,” he wrote. 

His account was quickly banned, but Klein defended himself on TikTok, arguing that both his cover photo and bio labeled his account as “parody” and therefore should be acceptable under Musk’s guidelines. 

“What more do you want from me?” he asked. “Comedy is dead. And Elon Musk dug the grave.” 

Protests of Musk’s Twitter Control

For her part, Griffin likewise tweeted while masquerading as Musk, writing that after “spirited discussion with the females in my life, I’ve decided that voting blue for their choice is only right.”

Musk joked that she was actually “suspended for impersonating a comedian” and added that she can have her account back if she pays for the $8 subscription. Griffin, however, found another way around the ban.

The comedian logged into her late mother’s Twitter account and began using the hashtag #FreeKathy while calling out Musk. 

“Mad Men” actor Rich Sommer and podcaster Griffin Newman have also had their accounts suspended for tweeting as Musk. Other celebrities, including TV producer Shonda Rhimes, musician Sara Bareilles, and model Gigi Hadid have protested Musk’s Twitter reign by leaving the platform altogether.

“For a long time, but especially with its new leadership, it’s becoming more and more of a cesspool of hate & bigotry, and it’s not a place I want to be a part of,” Hadid wrote on Instagram over the weekend. 

See what others are saying: (NBC News) (Variety) (The Verge)

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AOC Says Twitter Notifications “Conveniently” Disabled After Criticizing Musk

Published

4 weeks ago

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November 3, 2022

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“What’s good? Doesn’t seem very free speechy to me,” she tweeted at the new CEO.

AOC Vs. Elon Musk

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said several of her Twitter features are “conveniently not working” after feuding with the platform’s new owner, billionaire Elon Musk.

Ocasio-Cortez has never been shy about her views on Musk. After he officially took charge of Twitter last week, the congresswoman began criticizing his new proposals for the social networking site, specifically his plan to charge an $8 subscription fee for verification. 

“Lmao at a billionaire earnestly trying to sell people on the idea that ‘free speech’ is actually a $8/mo subscription plan,” she wrote on Tuesday.

“Your feedback is appreciated, now pay $8,” Musk replied the following day.

Around an hour later, the business mogul sent another tweet appearing to call Ocasio-Cortez out for selling $58 sweatshirts. 

“Proud of this and always will be,” she shot back. “My workers are union, make a living wage, have full healthcare, and aren’t subject to racist treatment in their workplaces. Items are made in USA. Team AOC honors and respects working people. You should try it sometime instead of union-busting.”

In a follow-up tweet, she noted that proceeds go to community organizing programs, including one that tutors students who are falling behind because of COVID-19.

AOC’s Mentions Not Working

On Wednesday evening, just hours after her back-and-forth with Musk, Ocasio-Cortez told her followers that her “Twitter mentions/notifications conveniently aren’t working tonight.”

“I was informed via text that I seem to have gotten under a certain billionaire’s skin,” she added. “Just a reminder that money will never [buy] your way out of insecurity, folks.” 

The issue seemingly continued into Thursday morning when the Democrat tweeted a screenshot of her notifications page, which loaded no results. 

“Why should people pay $8 just for their app to get bricked when they say something you don’t like?” she tweeted at Musk. “This is what my app has looked like ever since my tweet upset you yesterday. What’s good? Doesn’t seem very free speechy to me.”

Musk has repeatedly claimed that one of his primary motives to buy Twitter was to protect free speech. Once taking the reigns as CEO, though, he did say he would start a content moderation council and make decisions jointly with them.

See what others are saying: (The Hill) (Insider)

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South Carolina County Votes Against Moving LGBTQ+ Friendly Books Away from Children’s Section

Published

4 weeks ago

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November 3, 2022

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Efforts to limit LGBTQ+ content in libraries first began over the summer.

Attempts to Restrict LGBTQ+ Displays

The county council in Greenville County, South Carolina this week voted against discussing a resolution that would move all books “promoting sexuality” to the adult section.

This resolution is the culmination of months of turmoil in Greenville County. In June, libraries in the county removed Pride displays at the direction of library officials. Then in September, the county’s Republican Party executive board passed a resolution to call on the County Council to restrict access to books with LGBTQ+ themes and characters. 

The resolution was proposed by Joe Dill, an outgoing council member, as well as a member of the county’s Republican Party executive board. It proposed the council “officially order that no books or content, including digital copies or online accessible materials, promoting sexuality be allowed in the Children’s Sections of our public libraries.” 

Resolution Rejected

However, the resolution required the council to suspend its regular rules in order to discuss it as it was not submitted to the council via committee. The final vote was 9 to 3 against the suspension of the rules and effectively killed the resolution. 

Those that voted against it viewed the resolution as an overreach.

“We just do not believe that’s our job to get involved in the library’s business,” Council member Ennis Fett said to a local news outlet. “We appoint a board. We can not set a precedent of micromanaging the library board, because if we do that, then, we will be micromanaging all boards and commissions that we appoint.” 

Although the council decided not to get involved, the library still has the final decision to make regarding these books. Their meeting to discuss the matter is scheduled for December 5. 

See what others are saying: (Greenville News) (The Post and Courier) (7 News)

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