Charleston, South Carolina – March 14, 2025
The home of Amanda Coney Williams, sister of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, was the target of a bomb threat earlier this month, raising concerns about politically motivated harassment directed at the family of the prominent conservative justice. The Charleston Police Department responded to the incident on Monday, March 10, after receiving an alarming email claiming an explosive device had been planted at Williams’ residence.
According to police reports cited by Reuters, the threatening email stated, “I’ve constructed a pipe bomb which I recently placed in Amy Coney Barrett’s sister’s mailbox at her home. The device’s detonation will be triggered as soon as the mailbox is next opened. Free Palestine!” The message, which concluded with a reference to pro-Palestinian activism, prompted an immediate response from law enforcement.
The Charleston Police Department, assisted by the CPD’s Explosive Device Team, local fire services, and emergency medical crews, conducted a thorough inspection of the property. Authorities utilized a robot to examine Williams’ mailbox but found no evidence of an explosive device. After a detailed investigation, officials determined the threat to be a hoax, though the incident has left lingering questions about the motive and identity of the sender.
ABC News reported that the email was originally sent to an executive assistant at the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office just before midnight on Saturday, March 8. The assistant, who does not work weekends, discovered the message upon arriving at work Monday morning and alerted Sheriff Carl Ritchie within five minutes. Ritchie promptly forwarded the email to the Charleston Police Department, sparking the rapid response.
Amanda Coney Williams, an attorney like her sister, resides in Charleston, South Carolina. Her husband, David Williams, spoke with investigators and noted an unusual detail: over the weekend, someone had attempted to deliver pizzas to households connected to Justice Barrett, though it remains unclear if this was related to the bomb threat. “We don’t know who would target us,” David Williams reportedly told police, according to a statement released Wednesday.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett, appointed to the Supreme Court by President Donald Trump in 2020, has been a polarizing figure due to her role in the court’s 6-3 conservative majority. Her decisions, including those on abortion rights, affirmative action, and federal regulations, have drawn both praise and criticism, potentially making her and her family targets for political backlash. The “Free Palestine” sign-off in the email suggests a possible link to broader geopolitical tensions, though authorities have not yet confirmed a motive.
The investigation remains active, with Charleston police and the FBI working to identify the sender. No arrests have been made as of Friday, March 14, and officials have not released additional details about potential suspects. The incident has reignited discussions about the safety of judicial families amid rising threats against federal judges, a concern echoed by the Federal Judges Association in a statement this week.
