22-year-old Jacob Wohl and 54-year-old Jack Burkman are facing multiple felonies in connection with “conspiring to intimidate” by way of false robocalls about the election.
The report said that the robots in question were allegedly created to convince people In Detroit and other cities not to vote by mail. During the calls, they falsely told voters that if they send in their by-mail ballots, it could result in “arrest, debt collection, forced vaccination,” and more.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said, “Any effort to interfere with, intimidate, or intentionally mislead Michigan voters will be met with swift and severe consequences.” She added, “this effort specifically targeted minority voters in an attempt to deter them from voting in the November election. We’re all well aware of the frustrations caused by the millions of nuisance robocalls flooding our cell phones and landlines each day, but this particular message poses grave consequences for our democracy and the principles upon which it was built. Michigan voters are entitled to a full, free, and fair election in November, and my office will not hesitate to pursue those who jeopardize that.”
According to Attorney General Nessel, 85,000 calls were estimated to have been placed nationally, though the exact amount is unknown.
The two conservatives, Burkman and Wohl, face up to 24 years behind bars, if convicted on all charges, which include:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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-election law—intimidating voters (five-year felony)
-conspiracy to commit an election law violation (five-year felony)
-using computer to commit crime of election law—intimidating voters (seven-year felony)
-using computer to commit crime of conspiracy (seven-year- felony)
