Massachusetts Man Arrested for Making Bomb Threat to Arizona State Election Official

A Massachusetts guy was arrested right now in Falmouth, Massachusetts for allegedly sending a interaction that contains a bomb menace to an election official in the Arizona Secretary of State’s Place of work.

James W. Clark, 38, of Falmouth, is billed with just one rely of building a bomb threat, one particular rely of perpetrating a bomb hoax, and one count of communicating an interstate menace. Clark made his preliminary appearance right now at the federal courthouse in Boston.

“Illegal threats of violence put election officers and employees at risk and undermine the bedrock of our democracy: absolutely free and reasonable elections,” explained Assistant Attorney Normal Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Legal Division. “Our Election Threats Endeavor Pressure, operating with partners across the country, will proceed to vigorously look into and prosecute unlawful threats like these to hold accountable individuals who threaten our democracy.”

“Throughout Arizona, we are privileged to have hugely specialist point out, county and local officials who administer elections in a truthful and impartial method,” mentioned U.S. Lawyer Gary M. Restaino. “Democracy necessitates that we aid those officials, and that we acquire significantly allegations of threats or violence towards them.”

“The FBI usually takes all danger-to-daily life matters really severely,” reported Performing Special Agent in Demand Chris Ormerod of the FBI’s Phoenix discipline place of work. “While this arrest demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to keep accountable any individual who tries to intimidate a general public formal, it also reveals that people today are not able to threaten other folks with violence and physical damage without repercussions.”

According to the indictment, on or about Feb. 14, 2021, Clark allegedly despatched the adhering to message through the site call kind of the Elections Division, Arizona Secretary of State’s Business office, dealt with to the election formal: “Your lawyer standard requirements to resign by Tuesday February 16th by 9 am or the explosive gadget impacted in her own room will be detonated.”

The indictment also alleges that Clark utilized a world wide web browser to look for for the tackle of the election official and searched for “how to kill” the election official. The indictment further more alleges that, on or about Feb. 18, 2021, Clark utilized a internet browser to look for for “fema boston marathon bombing” and “fema boston marathon bombing plan digital army.”

If convicted, Clark faces a highest penalty of up to 10 decades in jail for building the bomb risk and up to five decades in prison for each individual of the counts on the bomb hoax and building a threatening interstate interaction.

Assistant Legal professional Basic Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Lawyer Gary M. Restaino for the District of Arizona, and Acting Particular Agent in Charge Chris Ormerod of the FBI’s Phoenix Subject Office environment built the announcement.

FBI Phoenix is investigating the case, with the help of FBI Lakeville (Mass.).

Trial Attorney Tanya Senanayake of the Criminal Division’s Community Integrity Segment and Assistant U.S. Lawyer Sean K. Lokey for the District of Arizona are prosecuting the situation.

This case is aspect of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Endeavor Pressure. Announced by Lawyer Typical Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Legal professional Basic Lisa O. Monaco in June 2021, the job drive has led the department’s initiatives to address threats of violence towards election employees, and to ensure that all election employees — whether elected, appointed, or volunteer — are equipped to do their work absolutely free from threats and intimidation. The task drive engages with the election local community and state and regional legislation enforcement to assess allegations and stories of threats from election personnel, and has investigated and prosecuted these issues where acceptable, in partnership with FBI industry offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices all through the nation. A calendar year immediately after its formation, the Job Drive is continuing this perform and supporting the United States Attorneys’ Places of work and FBI Area Offices nationwide as they carry on the critical work that the Activity Drive has begun.

Under the leadership of Deputy Attorney Normal Monaco, the activity power is led by the Legal Division’s Community Integrity Part and contains various other entities within the Office of Justice, such as the Laptop or computer Crime and Intellectual Property Segment of the Legal Division, the Civil Legal rights Division, the Nationwide Protection Division, and the FBI, as properly as essential interagency companions, these types of as the Office of Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Inspection Services. For more details concerning the Justice Department’s endeavours to battle threats versus election personnel, browse the Deputy Legal professional General’s memo.

To report suspected threats or violent functions, contact your local FBI office environment and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Get in touch with facts for every FBI area business office might be located listed here: https://www.fbi.gov/get in touch with-us/discipline-workplaces/. You may possibly also speak to the FBI at 1-800-Simply call-FBI (225-5324) or file an on-line criticism at: guidelines.fbi.gov. Problems submitted will be reviewed by the task power and referred for investigation or reaction accordingly. If another person is in imminent risk or risk of damage, contact 911 or your neighborhood police straight away.

An indictment is simply an allegation and all defendants are presumed harmless right until confirmed responsible beyond a acceptable question in a court docket of regulation.

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