Paramus Man Charged For Threatening Federal Judge: U.S. Attorney

PARAMUS, NJ — A Paramus man was arrested Sunday after he sent a threatening letter to the home address of a federal judge, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced Monday.

Kaetz, 56, of Paramus, is said to have sent three pieces of communication to the judge, which, the U.S. Attorney's Office said, contained threats of injury, assault and murder.

The most serious threats came in an email sent to multiple parties on Oct. 18 at 5:05 a.m.

In that email he says the judge "has a death sentence" and refers to them multiple times as a "traitor." Additionally, Kaetz said he would release the judge's home address — which he obtained through a paid online source — to the public.

Here is an excerpt of that email from the criminal complaint filed in the case:

Hello US Marshals
I filed this case a long time ago- It is to enforce Art. 4 Sec. 4 of the U.S. Constitution.
[Judge-I] has been avoiding and stonewalling the case. It is of National Importance.
[Judge-I] is a Traitor and that has a death sentence, I would rather use the pen than
the sword, but. .. there will come a time to take down those people that fail to do their job .... and that will be people like the traitor [Judge-I]. I have motions for [Judge1 's] recusal, motions to reopen the case as per [Judge-1 's] orders, motions to expedite the case, and I will be filing a mandamus. I will try my best not to harm the traitor Judge [Judge-I] but like I said, [Judge-I] is a traitor and needs to be delt with. You have an obligation to remove [Judge-I]. Read the court documents. The traitor Judge [Judge-I] lives at [FULL ADDRESS REDACTED]. Stop by and ask [Judge-I] why [Judge-I] is stonewalling my case. [Judge-1 's] home address will become public knowledge very soon and God knows who has a grievance and what will happen after that. ... This case must be opened and move forward now, This needs to be done now .. .

According to the office, investigators were first notified of Kaetz communication on Sept. 24, when he sent a letter to the judge's home. Kaetz believed that there were "excessive delays" in a pending case against him in the judge's court.

In an interview with investigators the same day, Kaetz insisted that the judge recuse themselves from his case, or be removed.

Investigators were later made aware of a voicemail left to the judge's chambers phone number around Sept. 18 which stated largely the same claims, but explained that he "would not take 'no' for an answer," according to the criminal complaint.

Kaetz is charged with making an interstate communication containing a threat to injure a person and threatening to assault and murder a federal judge.

The interstate communication charge carries a maximum five-year sentence while the threat to assault and murder carries a maximum 10-year charge, according to the Attorney's Office.

According to InsiderNJ, Kaetz has been a member of the North Jersey Regional Tea Party since 2010.

His Twitter page largely contains links to ads for President Donald Trump's re-election, as well as coronavirus conspiracy theories.