Virginia Men Plead in Racially Targeted Robocall Case That Used False Threats to Suppress Black Voters

Five years after they launched a racially targeted robocall campaign aimed at suppressing Black voter turnout in Michigan, two Virginia men—John Burkman, 59, and Jacob Wohl, 27—have pleaded no contest to felony charges. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the plea deal on Friday, marking a major development in a case tied to voter intimidation ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

While residing in Virginia, Burkman and Wohl orchestrated a robocall campaign targeting voters in predominantly Black neighborhoods in Detroit. Authorities say nearly 12,000 residents in one Detroit zip code received robocalls in August 2020 filled with false claims intended to dissuade them from voting by mail. The messages falsely warned that voting by mail could result in personal data being shared with police departments, credit card companies, and the CDC.

“It closed with a message urging the predominantly Black recipients to not be ‘finessed into giving your private information to the man,’” Nessel stated. She condemned their actions as “an egregious example of voter suppression.”

Claiming to be part of a fake civil rights group called “Project 1599,” the men pushed this misinformation to voters in multiple urban areas nationwide. The robocalls were part of a broader attempt to manipulate the electorate through fear and disinformation.

The legal process stretched over several years due to repeated motions and appeals by the defendants. Initially, the Michigan Court of Appeals declined to hear the case. But after intervention from the state’s Supreme Court, the appeal moved forward. Ultimately, the Court of Appeals ruled that the robocalls were not protected speech and allowed the charges to stand.

Burkman and Wohl pleaded no contest to four charges: bribing or intimidating voters (5-year felony), conspiracy to violate election law (5-year felony), using a computer to intimidate voters (7-year felony), and using a computer to commit conspiracy (7-year felony). A no contest plea means they do not admit guilt but accept conviction and sentencing, which is set for December 1.

“Deceptive and racially targeted suppression schemes will not be tolerated in Michigan,” said Nessel. “My office will continue to pursue and prosecute voter intimidation… to ensure that Michiganders can exercise their right to vote free from fear and deception.”

Link: MSN