A man from Massachusetts has been sentenced to jail after pleading guilty to threatening to blow up the Arizona secretary of state in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol building, according to prosecutors.
James Clark, a 38-year-old resident of Falmouth, Massachusetts, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison. This comes after he pleaded guilty to a single count of making a threatening interstate communication back in August.
The Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force, established in June 2021, has secured a conviction in its ongoing efforts to address the increase in threats targeting election officials. This surge in threats emerged following the 2020 election, which saw incumbent President Donald Trump defeated by Democratic challenger Joe Biden.
After the election, Trump spearheaded a campaign to discredit the election results, a campaign that would later be referred to as the Big Lie. This campaign reached its climax on January 6, 2021, with the attempted insurrection.
After Clark sent the message through the Arizona secretary of state’s website, he proceeded to search for Hobb’s address online, as stated by prosecutors. Additionally, prosecutors accused Clark of conducting searches on Hobb’s name, along with phrases like “how to kill,” as well as gathering information about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that resulted in the deaths of three individuals and left over 260 others injured.
Law enforcement officials carried out evacuations and bomb sweeps at the building housing the Arizona Secretary of State’s office. They also searched the personal residences and official vehicles of election officials.
Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a stern warning to those individuals who resort to illegal threats of violence to intimidate election workers. He emphasized that the Justice Department would actively pursue and apprehend anyone involved in such criminal activities, ensuring that they face the full consequences of the law.
“The Arizona election official was threatened by the defendant, who has been sentenced to three years and six months in federal prison. Our commitment to combating unlawful threats of violence remains unwavering, as we will relentlessly investigate and prosecute such cases.”
The Election Threats Task Force has filed charges against several individuals who have been accused of making threats against election workers. Many of these alleged crimes specifically targeted Arizona officials.
An Alabama man was taken into custody on February 28th for his involvement in sending nearly 20 threatening messages to election officials in Maricopa County, Arizona via social media back in August 2022.
Hobbs, who is now the governor of Arizona, has faced numerous threats as well.
During her gubernatorial campaign, an Iowa man, aged 64, was taken into custody for making threats against her and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. These threats were linked to unfounded allegations of voter fraud in the state during the 2020 general election.
“The protection of public servants who play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of our elections is of utmost importance,” stated Nicole Argentieri, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and leader of the Criminal Division at the Justice Department, on Tuesday. She emphasized the commitment of the Criminal Division to vigorously investigate and prosecute individuals who threaten election officials with acts of violence.”
