(UPDATE: Maricopa County Supervisor Clint Hickman has been identified as the victim of the threats. Here is the full statement from Hickman this afternoon:
"I remember exactly where I was when I heard that voicemail. It was chilling. This wasn't a prank call. This wasn't protected speech. This was a serious threat to me and my family. I'm grateful to the Department of Justice and the FBI for taking this case seriously and making an arrest, and I'm pleased the U.S. Attorney General has set up a task force to address increased threats of violence to election workers and elected officials.
I can tell you, though, that is not enough. I've received numerous threats over the past two years. My colleagues on the Board have as well. The Recorder. And worst of all, county elections staff doing their job honorably are getting calls and emails threatening violence, calling them traitors. It's despicable.
And by and large, people in positions of power, in positions of leadership, in positions of influence here in Arizona are silent. How can you be silent?
So I'm speaking out today in hopes that others will follow. Whether it's a person who shares your politics or your worldview or not, no one should be subjected to this kind of hatred. And if we truly want to keep our country great, we will do everything we can to denounce threats against election workers and combat the disinformation that imperils our democracy.")
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A 64-year old Iowa man was arrested and indicted today for twice threatening a Maricopa County election official last year. The initial threat to "lynch" the person came after the Arizona State Senate held a hearing on the so-called audit it conducted on Maricopa County's 2020 election. Jack Sellers, the Chair of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, had blasted the hearing.
Mark Rissi left the voicemail on September 27. He then called the Arizona Attorney General's Office on December 8 and again threatened to hang the election official along with the person at the AG's Office.
Rissi ranted: "I'm a victim of a crime.... The election that was fraudulent across the state of Arizona, that [VICTIM] knows was fraudulent, that [VICTIM] has images of the conspirators deleting election fraud data from the MCBOS computer system. Do your job, [VICTIM2], or you will hang with those [expletive] in the end. We will see to it. Torches and pitchforks. That's your future, [expletive]. Do your job."
Rissi is facing a maximum penalty of up to 12 years on the three counts.
The FBI offices in both Phoenix and Cedar Rapids are investigating the case, and is part of the Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force launched in June 2021.
This article was reported by AZ Law founder Paul Weich. Paul was running for a seat in Arizona's House of Representatives.
"AZ Law" includes articles, commentaries and updates about opinions from the Arizona Supreme Court, U.S. Supreme Court, as well as trial and appellate courts, etc. AZ Law is founded by Phoenix attorney Paul Weich, and joins Arizona's Politics on the internet.
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