When Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel is not bringing state charges against would-be kidnappers of Governor Whitmer, she is following through on voter intimidation charges against the alleged perpetrators of racist robocalls to Michigan voters:
“Political provocateurs accused of racist robocalls surrender in Michigan fraud case” by Dave Boucher, 10/8/20, The Detroit Free Press:
“Two alleged right wing provocateurs accused of orchestrating a racist and inaccurate robocall campaign to dissuade people from voting surrendered to Michigan authorities Thursday morning, the Michigan attorney general announced in a news release.
“Jacob Wohl, a 22-year-old Los Angeles resident, and Jack Burkman, a 54-year-old resident of Arlington, Virginia, were arraigned Thursday in the 36th District Court in Detroit. They pleaded not guilty on several felony charges related to allegations of voter intimidation and other election law violations.”
The article states that both men are known “to routinely stage fake events and purvey conspiracy theories that help far-right conservative causes and President Donald Trump.” They have pleaded not guilty to the charges and appear to see themselves as merry pranksters exercising their right to free speech. Their activities, however, are by no means harmless:
“The calls inaccurately stated law enforcement and debt collectors would use information provided by voters looking to cast an absentee ballot. The calls also said federal health officials would use the same personal information to track down people and forcibly administer vaccines. “
According to an earlier Detroit Free Press Article, Nessel’s Office determined that similar calls went to residents in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois. Investigators estimate that 85,000 robocalls were made.
No comments:
Post a Comment