Staff Reports
The Washington Examiner recently reported on the Justice Department’s efforts to prosecute those who threaten election officials. The department has secured 20 prosecutions in recent years in response to threats on election officials. With the upcoming November election expected to be fiercely contested in several races and states, the DOJ is cracking down on these threats.
DOJ steps up prosecutions on threats to election officials ahead of November contests https://t.co/prNI0LOgiG https://t.co/prNI0LOgiG
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 26, 2024
One case involved an Ohio man, Joshua Russell, who was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for making threatening interstate communications to then-Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs. Russell had left voicemails accusing her of being “the enemy of the United States” and a “traitor,” warning that her days were “extremely numbered.” The DOJ called these threats “an attack on the democratic process itself.”
Another case involved a Massachusetts man, James Clark, who was sentenced to three years and six months in prison for sending a bomb threat to the Arizona secretary of state’s office. He allegedly threatened to detonate an explosive device in the office’s personal space. The DOJ also alleged that he conducted online searches related to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.
The DOJ also indicted an Alabama man, Brian Jerry Ogstad, for allegedly making threats toward Maricopa County, Arizona, officials. He was charged with five counts of communicating an interstate threat for sending threatening messages to the county’s election social media accounts around the time of the 2022 primary elections in Arizona.
Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of election officials, stating that the DOJ will “continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute” threats against them. He warned that those who threaten violence against election workers will face consequences.
The actions taken by the Justice Department highlight the commitment to upholding the integrity of the democratic process and protecting those who administer elections. These prosecutions send a clear message that such threats will not be tolerated and that those responsible will be held accountable for their actions.
