As early voting continues across the country, poll workers continue to face harassment due to resurfaced conspiracy theories tied to the 2020 election. The increased violence faced by elected officials and volunteers led to the creation of the Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force (ETTF), which announced developments in four cases involving death threats directed at election personnel in Arizona, Colorado, and Pennsylvania.
The accused men were identified as:
- Teak Brockbank, 45, of Colorado
- Brian Jerry Ogstad, 60, of Alabama
- Richard Glenn Kantwill, 61, of Florida
- John Pollard, 62, of Philadelphia
United States v. Brockbank
Teak Brockbank, 45, of Colorado, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to threatening Arizona and Colorado election officials along with a Colorado state judge and federal law enforcement agents between September 2021 and July 2024, the Department of Justice said.
Authorities said Brockbank used three social media accounts to post and send threatening messages.
On Aug. 4, 2022, Brockbank posted the following message referring to election officials in Arizona and Colorado:
"Once those people start getting put to death then the rest will melt like snowflakes and turn on each other. . . . This is the only way. So those of us that have the stomach for what has to be done should prepare our minds for what we all [a]re going to do!!!!!! It is time."
Brockband also made death threats directed at a Colorado state judge and FBI agents, saying they needed to "explain themselves to our creator" and that he was "willing to send any/All of [them] there." In his detailed texts, the Colorado man said his actions would "not only justified but obligated by those in my family who fought and died for the freedom in this country."
According to the Department of Justice, Brockbank also admitted to illegally possessing multiple firearms and ammunition.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 3, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
United States v. Ogstad
Brian Jerry Ogstad, 60, of Alabama, was sentenced on Monday to 30 months in prison for sending threats to workers with Maricopa County Elections in Phoenix from Aug. 2-4, 2022 — during and immediately following the Arizona primary elections.
According to court documents, Ogstad threatened to execute the workers for their "crimes," calling them "cheats" and "frauds."
On Aug. 3, 2022, he posted the following messages on social media, accompanied by an image of a cowboy toy lying face down with an unidentified projectile in its back:
"You did it! Now you are f*****.. Dead. You will all be executed for your crimes"
"You are lying, cheating m****** f******* . . . you better not come in my church, my business or send your kids to my school. You are f****** stupid if you think your lives are safe"
Following his sentence, Ogstad will be subject to three years of supervised release and a $1,000 fine.
United States v. Kantwill
Richard Glenn Kantwill, a 61-year-old Florida dentist, was charged on Monday for allegedly sending a threat on Feb. 9 to an election official, in addition to already pending charges for threats made to three other victims based on their political commentary in 2019 and 2020.
The Florida dentist sent over 100 threats to various public figures — including an author, a religious leader, and a television personality — via Facebook, Instagram, email, and text, according to court documents.
From April 2022 to April 2024, Kantwill also sent the following Facebook threat to an election official:
"You are a degenerate c***. and you are now the target of our own investigation. Take note because liberal t***s like you get raped in alleys, by really big black guys that serve our cause. So, you t*** are going to get raped by at least 5 n*****s, and do nothing. You are the number 1 target, you degenerate t***."
According to the Department of Justice, Kantwill is charged with four counts of interstate transmission of a threat. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count.
United States v. Pollard
John Pollard, 62, of Philadelphia, was charged on Monday for allegedly threatening to kill a representative of a state political party who was recruiting official poll watchers.
On Sept. 6, Pollard contacted the representative via text message, saying he was interested in volunteering. He then sent the following death threats:
"I will KILL YOU IF YOU DON'T ANSWER ME!"
"Your days are numbered, B****!"
"GONNA F***ING FIND YOU AND SKIN YOU ALIVE AND USE YOUR SKIN FOR F***ING TOILET PAPER, YOU F***ING KKK**T!"
Pollard was arrested on Monday and appeared in federal court in Philadelphia. According to an official press release, he is charged with one count of interstate transmission of a threat and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison if convicted.
Heightened Security at Voting Centers
Election officials nationwide have taken steps to protect election workers and infrastructure from threats and violence. Measures include installing bullet-resistant glass at voting centers and conducting active shooter drills and de-escalation training for volunteers. These enhanced security protocols follow reports from a large number of election officials who have faced threats, abuse, or harassment while carrying out their duties.
"The fact that election workers need to be worried about their security is incomprehensible and unacceptable. While these four cases are examples of the kinds of threats election workers are unfortunately facing, these cases also represent the FBI's dedication in holding accountable those who undermine our democracy with this conduct," said FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Recently, an Arizona man was arrested on terrorism charges following a series of shootings at a Democratic Party campaign office. Authorities arrested 60-year-old Jeffrey Michael Kelly, noting that, due to the sheer size of the weapons cache found, they believed he was "preparing to commit an act of mass casualty."
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