Utah man threatens to hang judge ‘to death’ over treason charges

UTAH COUNTY, Utah — A previously indicted Utah County man faces a new charge for allegedly threatening to hang a judge he believed committed treason.

Elijah Nehemiah Madden already faced two felonies and one misdemeanor on unrelated charges in 2022 when he filed a motion titled “Motion to Remove a Judge for TREASON” over the summer.

As part of his motion, Madden warned the judge that if they fail to take “timely action to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States (sic) and to uphold their oaths of office, they shall be liable to death for treason.”

Madden warned that the judge’s punishment “upon conviction” would be to “take them on horseback to the nearest busy crossroads and hang them by the neck until dead at high noon…the body is to remain exposed until dusk as an example to any who disregard his ‘oath of office’…”

Madden filed the motion in August but was charged Thursday with influencing, obstructing or retaliating against a judge.