Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged a Detroit man for allegedly making death threats against Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel. Robert Sinclair Tesh was arrested in April after allegedly using a social media messaging app to make the threats. He was charged with "false report or a threat of terrorism," a felony with a maximum 20 year prison sentence.
Worthy says she can’t say whether there’s been an uptick in threats against the governor or other elected officials, since law enforcement handles those reports before they come to her or another prosecutor’s office.
“It would not surprise me if we saw more threats like this, I hope not. I hope that the charging in this case sends a message that we will take it seriously, and I can only hope that will be the case,” she says. “I’m always concerned that there may be people who threaten public officials, you know, especially during this pandemic, but even at other times as well. And what we want people to know is that this is not funny, this is not a joke.”
Worthy says people can feel however they want to about politicians and elected officials, but threats against officials won’t be tolerated. She says these threats will result in an investigation, as well as charges if the threat is found to be credible.
Jonathan B.D. Simon, Tesh’s court-appointed attorney, did not respond to a request for comment.
