News Summary
Jacob Wohl and John Burkman have pleaded no contest to felony charges related to a robocall scheme aimed at intimidating voters in Detroit during the 2020 election. They used misleading calls to target 12,000 residents, spreading false information about mail-in voting. With sentencing scheduled for December 2023, they face potential prison time. The case has raised significant concerns about election integrity and voter suppression, particularly among marginalized communities.
Detroit – Two men have pleaded no contest to felony charges stemming from a robocall scheme designed to intimidate voters in Detroit ahead of the 2020 general election. Jacob Wohl, 27, and John “Jack” Burkman, 59, both hailing from Virginia, targeted nearly 12,000 residents with misleading messages regarding voting by mail during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pleas were announced by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office on August 1, 2023. The robocalls were delivered in late August 2020 and disseminated false information, claiming that personal voter information would be accessed by law enforcement and credit card companies, and warned that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would use mail-in voting records for mandatory vaccinations.
Wohl and Burkman face multiple charges, including intimidating voters, conspiracy to violate election law, and employing a computer to commit these offenses. A “no contest” plea allows the defendants to accept punishment without admitting to guilt. For their most serious charges, they could face up to seven years in prison, although their specific sentencing is set for December 1, 2023, in Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court.
The defense attorney for Wohl stated that the plea agreement would help preserve their freedom, indicating no prison time is required. Previously, both men had contested the charges by asserting that their robocall activities were protected under free speech rights. In a similar case in Ohio, they were mandated to complete 500 hours of community service for targeting voters in Cleveland.
The robocalls by Wohl and Burkman were part of a larger campaign that reached over 85,000 calls across several states, which included Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Illinois. A federal judge found that their actions violated civil rights laws protecting voters. This case highlights ongoing concerns regarding election integrity, particularly efforts to suppress voter turnout among marginalized communities.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has underscored her office’s commitment to fighting voter suppression, particularly tactics aimed at minority populations, emphasizing that such deceptive practices will not be tolerated within the state. The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the charges against Burkman and Wohl did not violate their constitutional right to free speech, thus affirming the legal foundation for pursuing these charges.
The legal saga for Wohl and Burkman has unfolded over the past five years. Initially, they attempted to quash the charges in Michigan’s circuit court and subsequently appealed to the state’s Supreme Court. The court’s ruling was a significant step in attempting to clarify the boundaries between illegal voter intimidation and constitutionally protected speech.
The robocalls were made under the guise of a fictional “civil rights organization” known as “Project 1599,” which purported to discourage Black voters from participating in the electoral process. This strategy not only raises ethical questions about electioneering but also highlights the challenges of regulating misinformation in the digital age.
With the prosecution of Wohl and Burkman complete, the Attorney General’s office expresses relief at reaching a resolution to this high-profile case. The outcome may serve as a deterrent against similar schemes and may strengthen the public’s trust in electoral processes as the nation moves closer to future elections.
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