An Ohio man, Joshua Russell, has been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for leaving a series of voicemails laden with death threats for Katie Hobbs, the then-Arizona Secretary of State and now Governor. His actions highlight the disturbing trend of escalating threats against election officials across the nation.
In a federal courtroom, U.S. District Judge Steven Logan read aloud the expletive-riddled messages sent by Russell during the 2022 election season. The defendant had accused Hobbs of being a terrorist while issuing threats against her life. In one message, Russell told Hobbs that her “days are extremely numbered,” and that she had “just signed your own death warrant.” Another message ominously warned, “A war is coming for you… And we will stop, at no end, until you are in the ground.”
Before the sentencing, Russell expressed remorse, attributing his actions to inner turmoil and substance abuse, stating, “I was looking for an outlet to cast my inner turmoil onto.” He also wrote an apology letter to Hobbs, admitting his behavior was “disrespectful” and assuring her that he is not a violent person but “a broken man.”
Prosecutors had requested a prison term of 2.5 years, arguing that Russell’s threats had caused significant fear for Hobbs and her office’s staff, emphasizing that election workers should be able to perform their duties without fear and intimidation. They posited that the sentence should serve as a deterrent to anyone contemplating similar threats.
Judge Logan, while acknowledging Russell’s efforts in seeking substance abuse treatment and counseling, underscored the gravity of the crime and the impact on those targeted. The judge rejected the defense’s characterization of the actions as immature and denied Russell’s request for additional time to get his affairs in order, asserting that “none of these people deserved it.”
The sentencing comes amidst a series of actions by the U.S. Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force, which was created in response to the uptick in violent threats against election workers. John Keller, head of the task force, has emphasized that “death threats are not debate” and do not fall under First Amendment protection. Thus far, the task force has secured 13 convictions out of approximately 20 charged individuals.
Russell’s case is one among several recent convictions. It sends a clear message from the judiciary: Threats against election officials, the individuals responsible for the backbone of American democracy, will not be tolerated. It also serves as a reminder of the precarious environment that election workers have faced since the contentious 2020 presidential election, which saw numerous threats and resignations in the field, especially in key battleground states like Arizona.
Relevant articles:
– Ohio man gets 2.5 years in prison for death threats made in 2022 to Arizona’s top election official | AP News
– Ohio man sentenced for threatening to kill an Arizona election official, Arizona Mirror, Mon, 25 Mar 2024 22:50:28 GMT
– Ohio Man Jailed for Death Threats to Arizona’s Top Election Official, The Daily Beast, Tue, 26 Mar 2024 02:55:00 GMT
– Ohio man sentenced for death threats to Katie Hobbs, KTAR.com, Mon, 25 Mar 2024 23:00:00 GMT