'It will get worse': DOJ ramps up 'punishments' as threats to 'lynch' and 'hang' election workers persist
The United States Justice Department's Public Integrity task force, launched in 2021, has handed out a number indictments this month against voters who have threatened election workers across the country — and plan hand out more in the coming days.
According to Associated Press (AP), "The task force has reviewed more than 2,000 reports of threats and harassment across the country since its inception, though most of those cases haven't brought charges from prosecutors who point to the high legal bar set by the Supreme Court for criminal prosecution."
However, the unit has so far "filed 14 cases and two have resulted in yearslong prison sentences, including a 2 1/2-year sentence for an Iowa man charged with leaving a message threatening to 'lynch' and 'hang' an Arizona election official."
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Additionally, the report notes that "One indictment unveiled in August was against a man accused of leaving an expletive-filled voicemail after the 2020 election for Tina Barton, a Republican who formerly was the clerk in Rochester Hills, Michigan, outside Detroit. According to the indictment, the person vowed that 'a million plus patriots will surround you when you least expect it' and 'we'll … kill you."
Another early August indictment was against a Texas man who suggested a "mass shooting of poll workers and election officials" last year, according to the report, saying in a message that "Someone needs to get these people AND their children. The children are the most important message to send."
AP notes:
Government employees are being bombarded with threats even in normally quiet periods between elections, secretaries of state and experts warn. Some point to former President Donald Trump and his allies repeatedly and falsely claiming the 2020 election was stolen and spreading conspiracy theories about election workers. Experts fear the 2024 election could be worse and want the Justice Department to do more to protect election workers.
"This isn't going to be taken lightly. It's not going to be trivialized," Principal Deputy Chief, Public Integrity Section of the DOJ, John Keller told AP. "Federal judges, the courts are taking misconduct seriously and the punishments are going to be commensurate with the seriousness of the conduct."
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold told the news outlet, "I anticipate it will get worse as we end this year and go into the presidential election next year. Do we have the best tools to get through the next period of time? Absolutely not."
According to the report, "More people are expected to plead guilty Thursday to threatening election workers in Arizona and Georgia."
Associated Press' full report is available at this link.
