(DCWatchdog.com) – On Friday, a man from Massachusetts, James Clark, admitted to sending a bomb threat to the Arizona Secretary of State’s office in 2021, as revealed by the Justice Department.
Clark, a resident of Cape Cod, sent a demand via the secretary’s office website, which stated: “resign by Tuesday February 16th by 9 am or the explosive device impacted in her personal space will be detonated.”
At the time of the threat, the position of Arizona secretary of state was held by now-Governor Katie Hobbs (D).
Arizona federal prosecutor Gary Restaino remarked on the situation, emphasizing, “Threatening public officials is a serious matter, never warranted by the situation no matter how heated or politically charged.” He further stated the importance of such cases in safeguarding not only the targeted public official but also the sanctity of the election processes.
Subsequent investigations revealed that Clark had attempted to find the secretary’s home address and had searched phrases including “how to kill.”
Additionally, he looked into techniques utilized in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Clark confessed to making threats, an offense that could lead to a five-year imprisonment. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 26.
The FBI Director, Christopher Wray, issued a statement underscoring the significance of defending American rights, especially the right to vote. He said, “Defending the rights of Americans, particularly the right to vote, is a fundamental part of the FBI’s mission to protect the American people and uphold the constitution.”
He further appreciated election workers’ pivotal role in ensuring the integrity of the U.S. voting process. He concluded by asserting the FBI’s commitment to safeguarding election officials from violent threats and intimidation, thus maintaining the trustworthiness of U.S. elections.
