Teak Ty Brockbank, a Colorado man, pleaded guilty to making online threats against top elections officials, a judge, and law enforcement agents in his state and Arizona, both Democrats. Brockbank expressed his comments out of fear, hate, and anger. His guilty plea to one count of transmitting interstate threats could lead to up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on February 3. This case marks the 16th conviction secured by the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force, created by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2021 to combat threats against the election community. Brockbank’s threats included Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold and former Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, now the state’s governor.
Brockbank criticized the government’s response to a former Colorado county clerk convicted for allowing a breach of her election system. He also expressed anger over a state judge and former President Donald Trump being removed from Colorado’s primary ballot. Despite pleading guilty for threats made between September 2021 and August 2022, prosecutors stated that Brockbank has made more threats since then. This includes threatening Griswold for triggering an investigation leading to the conviction of the former county clerk.
The Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force has obtained multiple convictions, with the longest sentences being 3.5 years in prison. Threatening election officials has serious consequences, as demonstrated by Brockbank’s case. The Justice Department remains focused on holding individuals accountable for threats against election workers, officials, and volunteers.
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