The judge has since retained the protection of the U.S. Marshals Service.
"I have the marshal’s protection," Ellis said. "I don’t even go to the hotel alone. I won’t even reveal the name of the hotel."
"I had no idea this case excited this emotion in the public," he added.
Ellis made the comments after a coalition of news organizations ‐ including The Washington Post, The New York Times
...which still proudly displays Walter Duranty's Pulitzer prize...
, the News Agency that Dare Not be Named, CNN, NBC, Politico and BuzzFeed ‐ requested the names and addresses of jurors seated for Manafort’s case.
"There is no reason to believe that extraordinary circumstances exist that would justify keeping jurors’ names sealed ‐ particularly after they have rendered their verdict," their motion reads.
But Ellis disagreed, and rejected the motion for fear the jurors would be subject to the same harassment he has received.
"I don’t feel it’s right if I release their names," he said.
On Friday afternoon, the jury sent a note to the judge indicating they had not yet reached a verdict and hoped to adjourn for the day.