An anti-feminist lawyer, found dead Monday, July 20, is suspected of having shot the son and injured the husband of New Jersey federal judge Esther Salas the day before, the New Jersey federal prosecutor’s office said Monday. Roy Den Hollander was “Identified by the FBI” as the main suspect in the attack, the prosecutor said in a brief statement.
Federal police said the tragedy took place in North Brunswick, about sixty kilometers south of New York, on Sunday when a man in a FedEx driver’s uniform showed up at the judge’s home. . The magistrate’s son, Daniel Anderl, 20, opened the door for her and “Shot in the heart”, had explained, in the night, the mayor of North Brunswick, Francis “Mac” Womack, a friend of the judge, quoted by American media.
Judge Salas’ husband Mark Anderl, himself a well-known lawyer and former prosecutor, was also targeted when he came to see what was going on. He was hospitalized and was in serious condition, according to local television. The judge herself, who was in the cellar, was not injured.
Claimed “anti-feminist lawyer”
The prosecutor did not put forward any motive for the crime on Monday, stressing that the investigation was still ongoing. He did not specify how Roy Den Hollander died. According to several media, he was killed at his home in New York State, a hundred kilometers from the scene of the crime.
Mr. Den Hollander had hit the headlines in the past: he had notably attacked – unsuccessfully – as “Discriminatory practice” free admissions enjoyed by women in certain discotheques. He also attacked Columbia University for his feminist studies course. (Women studies), which he called “Bastion of intolerance against men”.
On his website, still accessible on Monday, he claimed his nickname of“Anti-feminist lawyer” and called the men “To fight for their rights before they have no more”. It was not known whether the lawyer had recently dealt with Judge Salas. The latter was in particular charged in 2015 with a civil complaint denouncing a military conscription reserved for men.
First Hispanic woman appointed federal judge in New Jersey
Most recently, Judge Salas was also assigned a class action lawsuit relating to the Epstein case. Group of investors criticize Deutsche Bank for failing to adequately monitor clients considered high-risk, including financier Jeffrey Epstein, accused of sexually exploiting underage girls and who committed suicide last year in prison.
The 51-year-old judge had also dealt with several high-profile cases and had notably chaired in 2014 the trial for fraud of Teresa Giudice, heroine of the reality show. Real Housewives of New Jersey, and her husband Joe.
Esther Salas is the first Hispanic woman to be appointed federal judge in New Jersey in 2010 by former President Barack Obama. US Attorney General William Barr sent “His deep condolences” to the judge and her family and specified, in a press release, Monday, having mobilized “The full resources of the FBI” for this survey.
