Sarah Palin's teenage stalker: An instant guide
Palin gets a restraining order against Shawn Christy, 18, who has allegedly harassed her for 15 months. Who is this kid — and is he dangerous?
A judge granted Sarah Palin and her friend Kristan Cole temporary restraining orders against 18-year-old Shawn R. Christy of McAdoo, PA, who Palin says has been stalking her since summer 2009. "Bottom line is, he is crazy and could kill me," Palin said, according to the court transcript. "He wants me dead." But does he really? Here's a look at Palin's teenage stalker and how much of a threat he posed:
Who is Shawn Christy?
Christy, who lives with his parents in McAdoo, was apparently an early supporter of Palin. "He was a definite fan,” says his dad Craig Christy. "He called [Governor Palin's] office asking for election information and how he could help out in October 2008," when he was 16. This August, the teenager, a member of Palin's SarahPAC political outfit, spent $200 to see Palin at a Pennsylvania fundraiser.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Why does Palin think he's stalking her?
Palin says Christy has been implicitly threatening her for months, suggesting (via phone calls and letters, including one signed "your magic enemy") that she "watch her back" and sending her a receipt for a gun. Palin's friend Cole says that Christy believes he had a "sexual relationship" with Palin and that he warned Cole she would be "punished" if she didn't corroborate this relationship to the FBI. Christy allegedly informed Cole that "he tried to follow the Bible but had evil and wickedness in him."
Why seek a restraining order now?
The final straw, Cole and Palin say, was when Christy announced he'd arrived in Alaska. "When someone sends you proof that they’ve purchased weapons, proof that they know where you live... and then calls from a cell phone with a [local Alaska] 907 number, it's over the line," Cole says. Dozens of people have threatened Palin since 2008, says her lawyer, Thomas Van Flein, but Christy "stands out as the most persistent."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
What does Christy say?
He largely admits to the threatening calls and emails, but says he never meant any harm or actually went to Alaska. Christy's father says it all started after his son had a 2008 run-in with the Secret Service in Washington, D.C.: Shawn noticed his cellphone and computer behaving oddly, and tried to contact the Secret Service to see if they were bugging his phone. When ignored, he decided to write threatening notes to Palin, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), and President Obama. "It wasn't the brightest idea," Christy says now.
What happens next?
The Alaska courts are going to hear Palin and Cole's petition for a permanent restraining order on Oct. 13, and Christy's family will testify over the telephone to try to prevent the order. In the meantime, after news of the restraining order broke, it's now the Christy family that is under police protection. "They're bringing in officers from other cities, Craig Christy says. Shawn Christy concludes, "I wish honestly, I could go back and it didn't happen.""
Sources: Scranton Times Tribune, Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman (2), Reuters, Politics Daily
-
Earth's magnetic North Pole is shifting toward Russia
Under the radar The pole is on the move
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Four invigorating paths for solo travelers to take in 2025
The Week Recommends New year, new opportunities to see the world on your own terms
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Pam Bondi, Trump's new pick for attorney general
In The Spotlight Bondi was selected after Trump's first pick, Matt Gaetz, removed himself from contention
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
1 of 6 'Trump Train' drivers liable in Biden bus blockade
Speed Read Only one of the accused was found liable in the case concerning the deliberate slowing of a 2020 Biden campaign bus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published