Since Donald Trump left office in 2021, four secretaries of state have reported receiving death threats for simply carrying out their duties, which include overseeing elections.
During a recent interview on “Meet the Press”, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes expressed his concern over the death threats he has received, calling them a form of domestic terrorism.
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“According to Mr. Fontes, threats against elections officials in the United States of America should be considered as domestic terrorism. He defines terrorism as any act of threat or violence that aims to achieve a political outcome. In his view, the intimidation and violence targeting elections officials fall under this definition.”
Three other secretaries of state, representing Michigan, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, joined him on the Sunday news show.
Mr. Fontes revealed that he and other targeted secretaries of state have been collaborating with law enforcement and the Department of Justice to shed light on the threats they face. He disclosed that he has taken precautions to ensure his safety, including preparing “go bags” in case he needs to go into hiding. Additionally, he has coordinated with his neighbors and family to ensure the well-being of his children should he need to leave his home.
Joyce Benson, the Secretary of State for Michigan, strongly condemned the threats made against election officials, describing them as a deliberate attempt to undermine the integrity of the democratic process.
According to her, the purpose is to create fear among professionals, local election officials, and voters.
In the aftermath of the 2020 election, elections officials across the country found themselves facing a wave of threats. These threats were primarily fueled by Mr. Trump’s persistent claims that the election was not secure and that he should have emerged as the winner.
The US Capitol was attacked by supporters of Mr. Trump on January 6th, 2021, following his false claim that the election had been stolen.
“It’s truly terrifying when individuals arrive at your doorstep in the dead of night, armed with guns, while you’re inside trying to shield your child,” expressed Ms. Benson with a sense of fear and concern.
Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s secretary of state, gained notoriety for his memorable conversation with Mr. Trump in 2020. During the call, the former president implored him to manipulate the vote count in order to secure victory in the state. Raffensperger courageously stood his ground, but since then, he has faced his fair share of threats. Among them, the ones that deeply troubled him were the threats directed towards his wife and daughter-in-law.
In November 2021, she and her family found themselves in a precarious situation. They had to go into hiding for almost a week after an intruder broke into a relative’s house. To make matters worse, on that very same night, a group of Oathkeepers, a right-wing extremist group whose leader faced charges of seditious conspiracy in connection with the Capitol riot, were discovered lurking outside the Raffenspergers’ residence.
In a recent case, a man from Ohio received a prison sentence of two and a half years for making threats against the life of an Arizona elections official during the primary and general elections in 2022.
Joshua Russell, 46, expressed his strong disapproval of an Arizona elections official by sending them messages in which he condemned them as “the enemy of the United States.” These remarks, reminiscent of the rhetoric used by Mr. Trump, also accused the official of being a “traitor to this country.”
In a terrifying turn of events, Russell issued a chilling warning to the victim, emphasizing that their time is running out. He ominously declared, “Your days are extremely numbered,” leaving no room for doubt about the severity of the threat. With an air of impending doom, he further emphasized that America is coming for them, insinuating that there will be dire consequences. The victim was subjected to derogatory remarks, being labeled a “communist” in a demeaning manner. The intensity of Russell’s words undoubtedly instilled fear and unease in the victim, leaving them with a sense of imminent danger.
In 2021, the DOJ, under the leadership of Attorney General Merrick Garland, initiated the Elections Threats Task Force. The primary objective of this task force is to tackle and combat acts of violence targeting elections workers and to safeguard them from any forms of intimidation or threats.
Mr. Fontes reassures that elections in the US are secure, despite all the bluster from conservatives.
“We are committed to conducting fair and reliable elections throughout the United States of America,” he affirmed. “We carefully verify voter registration information to ensure that only eligible individuals are included in the rolls. We conduct thorough audits to maintain the integrity of our electoral system. From start to finish, our processes are designed with checks and balances, guaranteeing the delivery of exceptional elections for all voters nationwide.”
