Dec 18, 2024 Story by: Editor
Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl, two far-right political operatives, are facing upheld criminal charges for their involvement in spreading misinformation targeting Black voters in Detroit during the 2020 election. The Michigan Court of Appeals issued its decision on Friday, affirming the charges after extensive legal scrutiny.
The charges, originally filed by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel in 2020, allege that Burkman and Wohl orchestrated approximately 85,000 robocalls across several Midwestern states. These calls aimed to deter voters, especially in Black communities, from participating in the election by spreading falsehoods about mail-in voting.
Supreme Court’s Findings on Voter Suppression
In June 2023, the Michigan Supreme Court (MSC) determined that Burkman and Wohl had used “corrupt means” and “racially based motives” to dissuade Black voters in Detroit from casting their ballots. The court highlighted that the robocalls were specifically designed to frighten voters with baseless claims.
According to the MSC’s June opinion:
“Defendants discussed their desire to ‘hi-jack this boring election’ and arranged for the distribution of a robocall specifically to ‘black neighborhoods.’ The call stated that mail-in voting could lead to voter information being shared with police for outstanding warrants, credit card companies for debt collection, and the CDC for mandatory vaccination efforts.”
The Supreme Court directed the Court of Appeals to examine whether these actions violated Michigan election laws, particularly provisions prohibiting voter intimidation and corruption in elections.
Election Law Violations
Michigan election law explicitly prohibits using bribery, threats, or other corrupt practices to influence or deter voters. Judge Anica Letica of the Court of Appeals stated that the robocalls constituted a direct violation of these laws.
“There can be no reasonable dispute that voting by mail is a voting procedure,” Judge Letica wrote. “The robocall was related to the procedure because it alleged that, if a voter used the voting procedure identified, certain negative events ‘will’ occur.”
However, a dissenting opinion from Judge James Redford argued that the robocalls did not directly address voting requirements or procedures, focusing instead on hypothetical negative outcomes of absentee voting.
Attorney General Applauds Decision
Attorney General Nessel welcomed the court’s decision and emphasized the importance of protecting voters from intimidation.
“Voter intimidation infringes upon the fundamental right to vote,” Nessel said. “I am grateful the Court of Appeals saw this conduct for what it was—a gross misrepresentation of voting procedures meant to scare voters from participating in our elections.”
With the charges upheld, the case against Burkman and Wohl is expected to proceed to trial, further spotlighting the issue of voter suppression tactics. Source: Yahoo News
