Esther Salas: Is shooting linked to the Jeffery Epstein-Deutsche Bank case? Internet says ‘no coincidence’
Tragedy struck at US District Judge Esther Salas’ home in New Jersey after a gunman shot dead her 20-year-old son and injured her husband on Sunday afternoon. The shootings took place at their North Brunswick home, killing her son, Daniel, as informed by Chief District Judge Freda Wolfson to The Associated Press. Her husband and defense lawyer Mark Anderl is in critical condition.
Reports suggest that the gunman posed as a delivery driver, and this was according to a judiciary official who wasn’t authorized to comment and spoke anonymously to the AP. They said Salas was in the basement at the time and wasn't injured and her husband is recovering from surgery. The perpetrator, believed to be a lone gunman, was not in custody, the official said.
Internet went abuzz with theories about the firing with some people even linking it to the Jeffrey Epstein case which was assigned to the judge four days ago, saying "it's not a coincidence". One user tweeted, “This story is CRAZY! Federal Judge, Esther Salas, who was just assigned the Jeffery Epstein/Deutsche Bank case filed July 15th just had a gunman dressed as a Federal Express delivery driver enter her home shoot her son and husband, son dead, husband in critical condition. NUTS!” A few even worried about her safety, “I can't believe I'm automatically thinking of the AG of the US, but I am. My thoughts were very much with her when I heard she was assigned the case. She has to have 24/7 protection. Why wasn't this given to her? Oh this poor, dear woman.” Some even made dragged Donald Trump into it by tweeting, “Terrible news! I smell a rat! #deutschebank Justice Anthony Kennedy “suddenly” retires. His son gave Trump $$loans when no other bank did. Bank guilty of money laundering. Now Jeffrey Epstein is added in the mix. NO COINCIDENCE! Prayers 4 Judge Salas family.”
According to the Daily Mail, the shooting came days after the judge was assigned a case with links to Jefferey Epstein though there is no confirmation the attack is linked to her work. Salas, seated in Newark, was nominated by former US President Barack Obama and confirmed in 2011. Earlier, she served as a US Magistrate Judge in New Jersey after working as an assistant public defender for several years. She was the first Hispanic woman to serve on the federal bench in the state.
One of the highest-profile cases she was associated with in recent years was the financial fraud case involving husband-wife duo of the 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' fame Teresa and Joe Giudice, whom Salas sentenced to prison for crimes including bankruptcy fraud and tax evasion. According to Star Tribune, Salas staggered their sentences so that one of them could be available to take care of their four children. The report also stated that in 2017, she barred federal prosecutors from seeking the death penalty against an alleged gang leader charged in several Newark slayings, ruling the man's intellectual disability made him ineligible for capital punishment. Salas later sentenced the man to 45 years in prison.
NBC’s News 4 New York reported quoted the FBI as: “The FBI is investigating a shooting that took place at the home of Judge Esther Salas in North Brunswick Township, NJ early this evening July 19. We are working closely with our state and local partners and will provide additional updates when available.”
Some New Jersey political leaders also expressed their support to Salas. "I know Judge Salas and her husband well, and was proud to recommend her to President Obama for nomination to New Jersey’s federal bench. My prayers are with Judge Salas and her family, and that those responsible for this horrendous act are swiftly apprehended and brought to justice,” Sen. Bob Menendez said in a statement. In a statement, Gov. Phil Murphy said, “This tragedy is our latest reminder that gun violence remains a crisis in our country and that our work to make every community safer isn’t done.”