The New York Sun (via AP) reports that the alleged mob boss known as Vinny “Gorgeous” Basciano asked an appellate court yesterday to order the judge in his upcoming trial to step aside.

The reason? Basciano apparently made credible death threats against the judge, and is now worried that the judge cannot be impartial.

Ironically, Basciano is on trial for making death threats against a prosecutor. A key piece of evidence in that case is purportedly a hit list which names not only the prosecutor in question, but two informants, and indeed, judge Nicholas Garaufis, who is hearing the case.

The U.S. Attorney is arguing that the mob boss put the judge on the hit list expressly for the purpose of having the judge removed. Basciano’s counsel countered by saying that there simply was never any such plot to kill the judge. It is not clear if she meant that the list was not legitimate or that the list was not intended seriously.

Basciano is already serving a life sentence for racketeering, murder, and attempted murder.