Two men are facing charges of making election-related threats against three Michigan officials.
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin and Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens received the alleged threatening messages.
The Michigan Attorney General’s office says 62-year-old Daniel Thompson of Harrison left voicemail and email messages with Sen. Stabenow’s office. He allegedly also made calls to Rep. Slotkin’s’ office. Prosecutors allege Thompson used vulgar and threatening language referencing the 2020 election.According to the AG’s office, “Thompson stated he was angry about the results of the November election, that he joined a Michigan militia and that there would be violence if the election results were not changed.”
In a separate case, 43-year-old Clinton Stewart from Douglas, Georgia is accused of leaving a threatening voicemail for Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens. Last year, the judge ruled in an absentee ballot case. Stephens’ decision would have allowed the counting of Michigan ballots that were postmarked by Nov. 2. However, her decision was overturned by a higher court.
Prosecutors claim Stewart’s voicemail accused “activist judges” of making rulings that favored then president-elect Joe Biden to win the election through mail-in ballots.
Thompson is charged with three counts of malicious use of service provided by a telecommunications service provider. Stewart is facing a single count of the same charge.
The misdemeanor charges carry a six-month jail sentence and/or a $1,000 fine.
“It is unacceptable and illegal to intimidate or threaten public officials,” says Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. “To those who think they can do so by hiding behind a keyboard or phone, we will find you and we will prosecute you, to the fullest extent of the law.”
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