Texas Woman Fails to Report to Prison for Threatening Federal Judge

Abigail Shry pleaded guilty to threatening to kill the judge overseeing Trump's election fraud case but has gone missing before serving her sentence.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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A Texas woman named Abigail Shry has failed to report to a federal correctional facility in Florida to serve a 27-month sentence for threatening to kill the federal judge overseeing former President Trump's 2020 election interference case. Shry pleaded guilty in November 2024 to making the threats against Judge Tanya Chutkan, but she did not show up to begin her prison term as scheduled on Tuesday. A judge has now issued a bench warrant for federal agents to locate and arrest the fugitive.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing threats and intimidation faced by government officials, particularly those involved in high-profile political cases. Shry's failure to report to prison raises concerns about the ability to hold perpetrators accountable and the potential for further escalation of threats against public servants.

The details

In August 2023, Shry called the office of Judge Chutkan and threatened to kill her, referring to the judge as a "stupid slave [epithet]". Shry also left threatening messages for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and made threats against "all Democrats in Washington D.C. and all people in the LGBTQ community". Prosecutors expressed concerns that Shry was "unmoored" and could escalate her threats further.

  • In August 2023, Shry made the threatening calls to Judge Chutkan's office and others.
  • In November 2024, Shry pleaded guilty to the charges.
  • On Tuesday, February 18, 2026, Shry failed to report to the federal correctional facility in Tallahassee, Florida to begin her 27-month sentence.

The players

Abigail Shry

A Texas resident who pleaded guilty to threatening to kill the federal judge overseeing former President Trump's 2020 election interference case, but has now failed to report to prison to serve her 27-month sentence.

Judge Tanya Chutkan

The federal judge who was presiding over former President Trump's 2020 election interference case and was the target of Shry's threats.

Sheila Jackson Lee

A late Democratic Congresswoman from Texas who also received threatening messages from Shry.

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What they’re saying

“If Trump doesn't get elected in 2024, we are coming to kill you, so tread lightly...”

— Abigail Shry (CBS News)

“There's no way to gauge what's going to happen here, except to look at what she's done in the past six months. In this particular instance … I don't want to be that FBI agent that didn't go check on Lee Harvey Oswald two days before John Kennedy was assassinated. That happened. And that's the footnote in history.”

— Federal Prosecutor (CBS News)

What’s next

The judge has issued a bench warrant for federal agents to locate and arrest Abigail Shry, who is now considered a fugitive.

The takeaway

This case underscores the ongoing threats and intimidation faced by government officials, particularly those involved in high-profile political cases. It also raises concerns about the ability to hold perpetrators accountable and the potential for further escalation of threats against public servants.