2 Political Operatives Accused Of Michigan Voter Suppression Bid

MICHIGAN — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has accused two political operatives of orchestrating a series of robocalls aimed at suppressing the vote in the November general election.

Jack Burkman, 54, and Jacob Wohl, 22, are each charged with intimidating voters, conspiring to commit an election law violation, using a computer to commit the crime of election law - intimidating voters, and using a computer to commit the crime of conspiracy, Nessel's office said.

The most severe of the offenses, using a computer to commit a crime of election law - intimidating voters, is a seven-year felony, according to Nessel's office.

The charges were filed Thursday in the 36th District Court in Detroit, Nessel said. Arraignment is pending for both suspects. The Michigan AG's office said it will work to secure the appearance of each defendant in Michigan, according to a news release, adding that it is too early to say whether formal extradition will be necessary or if they will present themselves voluntarily.

Burkman, of Arlington, Virginia, and Wohl, of Los Angeles, California, attempted to discourage voters from participating in the general election by creating and funding a robocall targeted at certain urban areas, including Detroit, Nessel said.

Both Burkman and Wohl are considered conspiracy theorists with online followings.

The calls were made in late August and went out to nearly 12,000 residents with phone numbers in the 313 area code, according to Nessel.

During its investigation, Nessel’s office said it communicated with attorneys general offices in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois, all of which reported similar robocalls being made to residents in their states who live in urban areas with significant minority populations. It is believed around 85,000 calls were made nationally, according to Nessel, although an exact breakdown of the numbers of calls to each city or state was not available.

Nessel’s office said it is grateful for the help of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, his staff and other local law enforcement officials who assisted special agents from her office in the investigation.

“Any effort to interfere with, intimidate or intentionally mislead Michigan voters will be met with swift and severe consequences,” Nessel said. “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.”

Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson issued a news release in August after news of the robocall surfaced.

"I have zero tolerance for anyone who would seek to deceive citizens about their right to vote,” Benson said. “I am grateful to the Attorney General for her swift and thorough investigation, putting anyone else who would seek to undermine citizens’ fundamental rights on notice that we will use every tool at our disposal to dispel false rhetoric and seek justice on behalf of every voter who is targeted and harmed by any attempt to suppress their vote.”

The recorded robocall message warned people about being “finessed into giving your private information to the man” and urged them to “beware of vote by mail,” according to Nessel.

The caller, who claimed to be associated with an organization founded by Burkman and Wohl, falsely tells people that mail-in voting, in particular, will allow personal information to become part of a special database used by police to track down old warrants and by credit card companies to collect outstanding debts, Nessel said. The caller also deceptively claims the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will use the information to track people for mandatory vaccines, Nessel said. None of that is true, Nessel reiterated.

Nessel encourages anyone who received this call on or about Aug. 26 and who wishes to file a complaint about it to contact her office by calling 517-335-7650.