Virginia Men Sentenced for Deceptive Robocalls Targeting Detroit Voters
In a case highlighting voter suppression tactics, two men who orchestrated misleading robocalls to deter Detroit voters during the 2020 election have been sentenced to a year of probation. Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, both from Virginia, faced these charges after their robocalls sought to manipulate voter turnout through false claims.
The pair challenged the charges up to the Michigan Supreme Court, contending that the state’s voter intimidation statute infringed on their First Amendment rights. However, after their legal argument was rejected, they accepted a plea deal, resulting in relatively mild sentences. For more details, see the Michigan Public Radio report.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel emphasized the gravity of their actions, stating, “The defendants’ conduct used every racist dog whistle – fear of incarceration, fear of the government and fear of one’s benefits being taken away – to steal the most fundamental right that we often take for granted: the right to vote.” Nessel also warned that any further criminal activity during their probation would lead to accountability in Michigan.
Operating under the guise of a fictitious entity called Project 1519 Project, Wohl and Burkman aimed their robocalls at nearly 12,000 phone numbers in Detroit. These calls falsely warned that absentee voting would lead to personal data being used for debt collection, warrant execution, and mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations.
This is not the first time Wohl and Burkman have faced legal repercussions for similar actions, as they have been convicted of election tampering in other states, showcasing a pattern of attempting to manipulate electoral processes.
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