By Itunuolwa Adebo

The FBI says the Hawaii federal judge who ruled against President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban has been the target of threatening messages.

US District Judge Derrick Watson’s ruling last week resulted in a temporary restraining order nationwide , just hours before the revised travel ban was to go into effect. Watson concluded in a 43 page ruling, that the new executive order failed to pass legal muster, and the state had established “a strong likelihood of success” on their claims of religious discrimination.

Since the ruling Watson, who presides in Honolulu, has received threatening messages. Michele Ernst, FBI spokeswoman said the agency is aware of the situation and prepared to assist. The FBI declined to provide additional details on the investigation.

The US Marshals Service, which is spearheading the investigation, also said it does not discuss specific security measures. “The US Marshals Service is responsible for the protection of federal judicial officials, including judges and prosecutors, and we take that responsibility very seriously,” it said in a statement.

“While we do not discuss our specific security measures, we continuously review the security measures in place for all federal judges and take appropriate steps to provide additional protection when it is warranted.”

Trump called out Watson’s ruling during a rally in Nashville, Tennessee, last week.

“This is, in the opinion of many, an unprecedented judicial overreach,” Trump said before pledging to take the issue to the Supreme Court if necessary.

Watson’s ruling, which applies nationwide, means people from six Muslim-majority countries and refugees will be able to travel to the US.

Watson is not the only judge who blocked the ban. Federal Judge Theodore Chuang of Maryland specifically blocked the 90-day ban.

Itunuoluwa