DOJ, FBI Addressing Threats of Violence Against Election Officials

September 21, 2021 by Reece Nations
DOJ, FBI Addressing Threats of Violence Against Election Officials
(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

WASHINGTON — The Federal Bureau of Investigation alongside the Department of Justice is reaching out to election supervisors around the country following months of abuse and threats of violence long after the certification of President Joe Biden’s electoral college victory.

The DOJ launched a law enforcement task force in July to address the increase in threats made against election workers and others associated with the electoral process. Election officials across the country have experienced a barrage of threats since former President Donald Trump claimed the election was stolen due to mass voter fraud.

“The FBI will not tolerate threats against any federal, state or local election worker participating in the common goals of safeguarding our electoral process and the rights of voters,” FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate said in a written statement. “From election administrators to volunteers to vendors and contractors, threats against any one individual is a threat against us all. The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people and uphold our Constitution, and protecting our democratic process is paramount. We take this responsibility seriously and will investigate any and all federal violations to the fullest.”

In June, the Brennan Center for Justice and the Bipartisan Policy Center issued a joint report highlighting threats against election officials. In the report, a survey of election officials found that one in three felt unsafe because of their job and nearly one in five listed threats to their lives as a job-related concern.

The report’s findings note that violent threats against election officials reached an “alarming” level in 2020 that was expected to continue this year. In response, the report’s authors made a series of recommendations — including the creation of state-level laws that provide greater personal security for election officials and workers — among others.

Another key solution outlined in the report suggests states should prioritize implementing processes to coordinate investigation and prosecution for individuals responsible for threats made against election workers. Further, the report’s authors note that disinformation campaigns conducted via social media networks have made election officials’ jobs more dangerous and difficult.

“In 2020, political actors ramped up the lies about election processes to try to influence election outcomes, often on social media,” the text of the report reads. “This disinformation has indelibly changed the lives and careers of election officials. Indeed, 78% of election officials surveyed by the Brennan Center said that social media, where mis- and disinformation about elections both took root and spread, has made their job more difficult; 54% said they believe that it has made their jobs more dangerous.”

The report suggests the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in conjunction with other agencies should create a directory of election officials for internet companies to consult in order to correct falsehoods on the elections they oversee. Another solution suggested in the report maintains that states should “explore structural changes to election administration to insulate election officials from political interference.”

That suggestion was made in response to a finding in the report that noted election officials are increasingly faced with pressure to prioritize “partisan interests” over the democratic process. The report references Trump’s Jan. 2020 phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in which he pressed Raffensperger to find “11,780 votes” needed to defeat Biden in the state.

In August, TWN reported that Republican legislators in at least 14 states enacted 23 new laws this year that shift authority away from local election officials. Other measures were passed in at least 18 states that limit early and mail-in voting, establish new voter ID requirements and restrict the use of ballot drop boxes.

“To protect the electoral process for all voters, we must identify threats against those responsible for administering elections, whether federal, state, or local,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a written statement. “A threat to any election official, worker, or volunteer is a threat to democracy. We will promptly and vigorously prosecute offenders to protect the rights of American voters, to punish those who engage in this criminal behavior, and to send the unmistakable message that such conduct will not be tolerated.”

A+
a-
  • elections
  • elections officials
  • FBI
  • Justice Department
  • threats
  • voting
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Elections

    Republican Vince Fong Advances to Runoff to Complete Term of ex-House Speaker McCarthy

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — Republican state Legislator Vince Fong advanced to a May election in California to decide who will... Read More

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — Republican state Legislator Vince Fong advanced to a May election in California to decide who will complete the remainder of the term of deposed former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, which runs through January. It was not yet clear Tuesday night who will... Read More

    Tuesday's Primaries Include Key Senate Race in Ohio and Clues for Biden-Trump Rematch

    NEW YORK (AP) — Five states will hold presidential primaries on Tuesday as President Joe Biden and former President Donald... Read More

    NEW YORK (AP) — Five states will hold presidential primaries on Tuesday as President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump continue to lock up support around the country after becoming their parties’ presumptive nominees. Trump is expected to easily win GOP primaries in Arizona, Florida, Illinois,... Read More

    Climate, a Major Separator for Biden and Trump, Is a Dividing Line in Many Other Races

    RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The race for the White House isn’t the only one with big stakes for climate policy.... Read More

    RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The race for the White House isn’t the only one with big stakes for climate policy. In campaigns for Congress and for governor around the country, candidates are talking about how green the grid should be, too. Voters are increasingly feeling the impacts... Read More

    Fake Images Made to Show Trump With Black Supporters Highlight Concerns Around AI and Elections

    WASHINGTON (AP) — At first glance, images circulating online showing former President Donald Trump surrounded by groups of Black people... Read More

    WASHINGTON (AP) — At first glance, images circulating online showing former President Donald Trump surrounded by groups of Black people smiling and laughing seem nothing out of the ordinary, but a look closer is telling. Odd lighting and too-perfect details provide clues to the fact they... Read More

    February 29, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    White House Steps Up Effort to Get Voting Information to the Public

    WASHINGTON — Emails, new signage and three “national days of action” are all part of a stepped up effort by... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Emails, new signage and three “national days of action” are all part of a stepped up effort by the Biden-Harris administration to ensure voters know their rights and are able to participate in 2024 elections. The initiatives are part of the administration’s ongoing effort... Read More

    February 29, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Cornel West Secures Spot on South Carolina Ballot for November

    CHARLESTON, S.C. — Dr. Cornel West, who is waging an independent campaign for the presidency under the banner of his... Read More

    CHARLESTON, S.C. — Dr. Cornel West, who is waging an independent campaign for the presidency under the banner of his Justice for All Party, has secured a spot on the November ballot in South Carolina. West, the Dietrich Bonhoeffer professor of Philosophy and Christian practice at... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top