The Justice Department announced on Monday that it has successfully prosecuted 20 individuals who threatened election workers since 2020. This concerted effort by the department has been aimed at upholding justice and ensuring the safety of those involved in the electoral process.
Arizona prosecutors have recently announced the sentencing of a man who made threats to kill Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) back in 2022, during her time as the Arizona Secretary of State.
According to U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino, over half of the 20 prosecutions led to prison sentences exceeding one year. He made this announcement during a press conference in Arizona.
He emphasized the importance of these cases as a reminder to not engage in or attempt to engage in vigilantism.
The Justice Department established the Election Threats Task Force in 2021 to address the rise of 2020 election denialism. Although initially embraced by certain right-wing factions within the GOP, this idea of the elections being “rigged” gained traction among prominent figures like former President Trump and other mainstream politicians. Consequently, a significant portion of the American population continues to hold onto this belief.
In Arizona, a crucial swing state that President Biden won in 2020 after a prolonged vote count, the notion of election fraud is particularly prevalent. Kari Lake, a Republican candidate for governor who is currently running for Senate, has accused Hobbs of winning her election in 2022 through fraudulent means.
According to John Dixon Keller, the head of the task force, although the majority of the thousands of tips received do not lead to criminal cases, they still play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of elections.
He emphasized that death threats do not foster productive discussions and are not valuable contributions to the exchange of ideas. He firmly stated that death threats should not be considered a protected constitutional right.
Joshua Russell was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for making several death threats to Hobbs during a phone call.
Russell sent three threatening voicemails to the Arizona Secretary of State’s office, targeting Hobbs’s life. The messages were left starting from the Arizona primary elections in 2022 and continued until the general election.
In a statement, Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that the Department will persistently focus on individuals who pose a threat to election workers.
Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a strong statement emphasizing the consequences for those who threaten violence against public servants involved in administering elections. He highlighted the crucial role of election workers and officials in upholding the right to vote, which serves as the foundation of our democracy. Garland reiterated the commitment of the Justice Department to vigorously investigate and prosecute individuals who pose a threat to these dedicated public servants.
