Alabama man who threatened Georgia Prosecutor Fani Willis sentenced to 21 months in prison

An Alabama man was sentenced to more than a year in prison after leaving threatening voicemails directed at two Georgia officials investigating and prosecuting former President Donald Trump for possible election crimes, the Justice Department said this week.

A U.S. District Court judge in Georgia sentenced Arthur Ray Hanson II of Huntsville, Alabama, to 21 months in federal prison for making phone calls in August 2023 that threatened Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Sheriff Patrick Labat. Federal prosecutors said Hanson referred to Trump as “my president” in calls left on the Fulton County Government customer service line and warned the two officials they would face violence if they did not stop the Trump investigation.

Hanson made the threats almost a week ago Trump and 18 others indicted by Georgia grand jury He’s up against the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act as he tries to overturn the results of Georgia’s 2020 election for Trump. Federal prosecutors said Willis and Labat have increased security for themselves and their families since the indictment because of the threats.

“Public officials have a responsibility to enforce our criminal laws, and anyone who threatens to harm or intimidate them will face consequences for their actions,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.

Hanson’s sentence is the latest development in the way lawyers, judges and other officials prosecute or investigate politicians. researchers The Counterterrorism Center at West Point said in May: A preliminary review of cases from 2023 through 2024 showed that federal investigations into these threats are “on pace to reach new record levels.” Researchers found that at least 75 people were arrested for threats in 2023, and more than 30 were “subject to federal prosecution” in the first quarter of 2024.

“Threats do not need to be implemented beyond communication to be effective in instilling fear among victims and, most importantly, disrupting democratic processes,” the researchers said. “Threats against public officials currently create significant harm to U.S. government, including discouraging individuals from running for public office.”

Man warns lawyer and sheriff about impending deaths

Federal prosecutors said Hanson left a one-minute voicemail for both officials on Aug. 6, 2023. Hanson admitted to law enforcement that the threats stemmed from frustration at seeing Trump’s mugshot.

“If you think you’re going to take a mugshot of President Donald Trump and it’ll be okay, once you take that mugshot you’ll realize that bad things will probably happen to you,” Hanson said. Voice message for Labat.

According to court documents, Hanson used “racist, profane language” when threatening both Willis and Labat. Both officials are Black.

“And you think because you’re a lawman he’s going to protect you, it’s not like that,” Hanson said in a voicemail to Willis. “It’s going to be bad and you’ll (expletive-filled) regret the day you were born.”

Hanson’s lawyers asked for a lesser sentence because he was remorseful for making the threats and had been drinking at the time. They said his earlier guilty plea to making threats showed he took responsibility for the searches.

“Mr. Hanson does not remember making the phone calls; however, he does not deny making them and accepts full responsibility for his actions,” his lawyers said in court documents.

This did not impress federal prosecutors. Court documents stated that Hanson has a history of threats dating back to 2018. In that case, Hanson was convicted of calling a business several times and threatening to harm a person and their business.

Federal prosecutors added that Hanson threatened U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas a month after telling officers he would not search again. In that call, he told the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness that Mayorkas should be hanged, prosecutors said.

“The need to maintain general deterrence is especially important in these polarized times, so others know that when they threaten public officials, they face serious penalties, including prison time,” federal prosecutors wrote in court filings. he said. “Also, being in prison this time will protect the public from Hanson continuing to make threatening calls.”

U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee ultimately sentenced Hanson to 21 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Public officials face threats for investigating politicians

Hanson’s threatening messages are not the first in the country. Scores of people were arrested or convicted for making violent threats against judges, lawyers, and law enforcement officers prosecuting politicians.

Threats against people involved in cases involving Trump have increased.

Election lawsuit against Trump pending in Georgia pending the outcome of an appeal seeking to disqualify Willis from the racketeering case. Trump and eight defendants are seeking to overturn Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee’s decision that allowed Willis to remain in the case despite allegations of malfeasance and financial conflict of interest.

In September, U.S. Attorney Merrick Garland said the Department of Justice said: Staff have faced increasing attacks of bullying since he took the reigns.

In May, Marc Shultz from Chula Vista, California He was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly threatening Willis. Federal prosecutors said Shultz posted comments on YouTube videos threatening to kill Willis “like a dog.”

Abigail Jo Shry, Alvin, TexasHe was arrested in August 2023 for allegedly threatening to kill a judge overseeing Trump’s trial. previous week, The FBI shot and killed Craig Robertson of Provo, Utah, while trying to arrest him for posting threats on social media against the Manhattan district attorney who accused Trump and President Joe Biden.

In July 2023, Adam Bies pleaded guilty to 14 charges making threats against federal officials. He made the threats after FBI Director Christopher Wray condemned the increased violent threats against the agency following the raid on Trump’s residence and Mar-a-Lago club.

West Point researchers said the threats represent a growing tolerance for violence and extremism facing civilian leaders. They suggested that security agencies review which sectors face the most frequent threats and toughen measures to protect these workers from physical violence.

“Without a concerted intervention from policymakers, law enforcement, and the public, the damage to governance systems is likely to increase further in the near future,” the researchers said.

Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.@KrystalRNurse.

This article first appeared on USA TODAY: Alabama man jailed for threats against Georgia Attorney Fani Willis