Minnesota man’s plot to ‘hunt, stalk, and kill’ federal judges thwarted by a library

Minnesota library staff helped thwart a potentially deadly plot by a 72-year-old man who openly shared a 236-page manifesto detailing how to “hunt, stalk, and kill” federal judges.

“How to plan, train, hunt, stalk and kill anyone”

According to the federal complaint, the incident began on September 3, 2025, at the Wayzata Library. where the suspect, Robert Phillip Ivers, printed copies of his manifesto, titled How to Kill a Federal Judge, and showed pages to library staff that included violent imagery, instructions for killing, and even references to children.

He also handed staff a three-page flyer promoting his book, stating that it “is designed to teach extremists on how to plan, train, hunt, stalk and kill anyone, including judges, their family members, politicians and more!”

Ivers’ church incident

Authorities noted that Ivers had previously exhibited concerning behavior at an Episcopal church in Minnetonka. On August 28, 2025, he attended multiple services and outlined plans to attend upcoming church events, including family gatherings and ceremonies with state legislators present. Church staff, alarmed by his past threats, felony conviction, and racist commentary, alerted law enforcement.

After authorities arrested Ivers, he reported experiencing a heart attack and was temporarily taken to a hospital before being released later that night. A search of his vehicle revealed disturbing materials, including multiple copies of his manifesto, a toy firearm with CO2 cartridges and pellets, fireworks, a copy of the Anarchist Cookbook, and lists of federal judges. Investigators also found a photo of the former Pope with crosshairs centered on his head.

On September 5, 2025, Ivers was re-arrested and admitted to showing his manifesto to library staff. When asked if his writings would scare anyone, he reportedly shouted: “It was supposed to!

“Threats of violence directed at federal judges not only undermine the integrity of our legal system but also pose a grave risk to the principles of justice and democracy,” FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. said. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners consider all threats of violence against judges, or any public servants, with grave seriousness.”

According to the United States Department of Justice in a press release, Ivers was charged with threatening to assault and murder a federal judge, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.

“At a time when Minnesota is reeling from acts of violence, the last thing we need is someone spreading fear into our churches, libraries, and courts,” Thompson said.

Ivers’ crimnal record

Meanwhile, this is not Ivers’s first encounter with the legal system for similar actions. He was previously convicted in 2018 for threatening to kill a federal judge. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release. 

The manifesto he was printing and distributing this time was reportedly a document that was previously an exhibit in 2018 and in 2022, stemming from his violation of the terms of his supervised release after his 2018 conviction for threatening a federal judge.

News articles also reportedly mention a 2017 mayoral debate where he complained about a planned light rail extension bringing “ethnics” into the suburbs of the city.