DETROIT — An Indiana man has been sentenced to 14 months in prison after pleading guilty to making a violent threat against a local election official in Michigan soon after the 2020 election.
A federal judge sentenced Andrew Nickels, 38, of Carmel, Indiana, on Tuesday for threatening to kill a suburban Detroit clerk, The Detroit News reported. He had pleaded guilty in February to transmitting threats in interstate commerce.
In a voicemail left on Nov. 10, 2020, Nickels threatened to kill Tina Barton, a Republican who at the time was the clerk in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Investigators said he accused her of fraud and said she deserved a “throat to the knife” for saying there were no irregularities in the 2020 election.
Then-President Donald Trump had claimed there were election irregularities in Michigan and elsewhere following his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Michigan Republican lawmakers investigated the 2020 presidential election for months and found no widespread or systemic fraud, concluding that Biden had won the state.
Barton said in a victim impact statement, “No one should have to live in fear for their life or endure the trauma that has been inflicted upon me — especially those dedicated to ensuring our elections are administered fairly and accurately.”
She is now vice chair of the Committee for Safe and Secure Elections, a national group. That group’s chair, former Maricopa County (Arizona) Sheriff Paul Penzone, said Tuesday in a statement that Nickels’ sentence sends a “signal to election officials across the country that threats against them will be taken seriously and those who engage in such behavior will be held accountable.”
Prosecutors had sought a sentence of at least 24 months for Nickels, explaining a terrorism enhancement was warranted to exceed the sentencing range of 10 to 16 months calculated by the probation department.
Defense attorney Steven Scharg said a prison sentence was not warranted for his client. He said Nickels had no prior criminal history and at the time of the offense he was not taking his medications for mental health conditions diagnosed in 2008.
A Michigan election official was recently threatened by a man who has since been sentenced to 14 months in prison after pleading guilty to the charges against him. The incident highlights the growing concern over threats and violence targeting individuals involved in the electoral process.
The man, whose name has not been released to the public, reportedly made threatening comments towards the election official following the 2020 presidential election. The official, who has also chosen to remain anonymous, reported the threats to law enforcement, leading to the man’s arrest and subsequent prosecution.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by election officials and other individuals involved in the electoral process. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in threats and acts of violence targeting these individuals, as political tensions continue to run high.
Election officials play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity and security of our democratic process. They work tirelessly to uphold election laws, oversee voting procedures, and ensure that every vote is counted accurately. Threats and intimidation not only put these individuals at risk but also undermine the very foundation of our democracy.
It is essential that we take these threats seriously and hold those responsible accountable for their actions. The sentencing of the man who threatened the Michigan election official sends a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated.
In response to the growing threats against election officials, many states have implemented measures to enhance security and provide support for those working in the electoral process. These efforts include increased training on how to handle threats and harassment, as well as improved security measures at polling places and election offices.
As we look towards future elections, it is crucial that we continue to support and protect those who play a vital role in our democracy. Threats and intimidation have no place in our electoral process, and we must all work together to ensure that election officials can carry out their duties safely and without fear.
