The U.S. Attorney’s office in Detroit has filed criminal charges against a woman who allegedly threated a member of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers.
The FBI says Board chair Monica Palmer received photos of a mutilated body, a day after she had initially refused to certify local results in favor of Joe Biden. Palmer chaired a raucous meeting of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers on Nov. 17. Palmer and a fellow Republican on the board initially refused to certify local election results, typically a routine step. They later changed their position.
23-year-old Katelyn Jones is charged with texting threatening messages to Board Chairwoman Monica Palmer calling her a “racist” and a “terrorist.” Jones allegedly also sent two photos of a deceased woman’s nude, mutilated body and made reference to Palmer’s daughter by name.
“The allegations in this case should make all of us disgusted,” says U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider. “Just because a person disagrees with us on a political, legal, or moral point, that does not make that person evil. Disagreement is part of the American way of life.”
If convicted, Jones faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
While Jones is the only person facing criminal charges, Schneider suggests there are others who bear some responsibility as well.
In a written release, Schneider notes that elected officials, community activists, and religious leaders have decried hateful language and rhetoric. But they don’t always follow their own advice.
“We have heard those exact same leaders using hateful language and rhetoric to decry anyone who disagrees with them,” says Schneider.
The U.S. Attorney accuses them of fanning the flames that leads to “the senseless threats we’re seeing in allegations like this today.”
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