AZ SOS: Death threats to election officials is terrorism

Four secretaries of state are speaking out about the threats they receive regularly simply for doing their jobs, thanks in large part to election denialism perpetuated by Donald Trump and members of the Republican Party.

"Threats against elections officials in the United States of America is domestic terrorism. Terrorism is defined as a threat or violence for a political outcome. That's what this is," Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said on Meet the Press. He spoke as part of a panel of four secretaries of state who appeared on the show Sunday.

https://apple.news/Ag9fBwVsdTqWRFKTh-GogKw

"It strikes me how so much of these tactics to try to delegitimize democracy, attack election officials," said Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. "It's about instilling fear -- instilling fear into us as professionals, in our local election officials, and instilling fear in voters."

"It's really scary when people show up with guns outside your home in the middle of the night and you've got a kid inside you're trying to protect," Benson added.

Many of the threats against election officials are due to Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. He has repeatedly claimed the election was "rigged," which led many of his supporters to descend on the Capitol in a violent attack on Jan. 6 while Congress was certifying Biden's win.

"We said a lot in our darkest moments after the 2020 election, when we were just inundated with lies and misinformation in an effort to overturn a valid and legitimate election, that the truth is on our side and that transparency is our friend," Benson said.

Those dark moments have carried forward into 2024. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold told Rolling Stonein March that she saw a 600 percent increase in threats against her since residents sued the state to block Trump from appearing on the 2024 ballot because he incited an insurrection. The 14th Amendment bars insurrectionists from holding office. Their suit was ultimately rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Normalizing this level of crazy cannot continue

All the way around though 

can’t forget that part .

I ain’t met a motherfucker yet without a little dirt on them . Let alone the slime suits most people be wearin’ while huffin’ and puffin’ themselves through this life circus of the absurd .

This post is in honor of Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt. Ashli Babbitt, age 35 was unarmed walking through the United States Capitol Building on 6 January 2021. While unarmed, she was murdered in very cold blood by Officer Byrd of the United States Capitol Police.

Play stupid games...

That was an act of terrorism committed by the United States Capitol Police. Terrorism is indicated to possibly be perpetrated by the Right sometime in the future inside the title of this thread. That is playing stupid games!

And that's why the MAGAs are never, ever, ever the law and order party. They're the ones that want to defund law enforcement when it's convenient and promote fascism at all costs. Poor losers expected a safe space while breaking and entering with an armed mob.

I don't know, bro. She was coming through a broken window. Kinda asking for it.

Glad to see which posters agree that death threats against election officials is wrong.

Babbitt was no peaceful protester or martyr.  She joined a violent mob to force its way into capitol building.  Investigations found capitol police officer was justified in shooting Babbitt in self defense.  Potentially saving members of congress from harm.  She died because of Trump big lie about stolen election.  Capitol police officers are heroes.

But but … but … but … the MAGAs want us to believe that people who did this are poor victims who were merely attacked by law enforcement:

WASHINGTON — A Donald Trump supporter who attacked officers during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol while wearing a "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN" sweatshirt was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison on Friday, lashing out at the Trump-appointed judge who sentenced him.

Federal prosecutors had sought 14 years in federal prison for Christopher Quaglin, saying the New Jersey man was one of the most violent Jan. 6 rioters and "viciously assaulted numerous officers" after calling for "Civil War" and boasting about armed patriots storming the Capitol.

"On at least a dozen occasions, Quaglin stood face-to-face with officers as he screamed at, pushed with outstretched arms, punched, swatted, and slapped officers; pushed bike racks into officers; and even choked one officer to the ground," prosecutors wrote.

@sundance

 So was she on a guided, peaceful, registered tour of the capital or part of a mob attack thanks to Trump and his big fat trap?

Nobody deserves to die even when they make awful decisions but people need to think about the risk they take and the potential for harm that comes from joining a bunch of people breaking the law acting in a disrespectful way to a government establishment.

Just for the record, Griswold's own electoral commission staff DID NOT realize the Supreme Court squashed the States attempt to take Trump of their ballot..lost it by a narrow 9-0 at that 

Watch out folks, the Silent Majority is growing by leaps and bounds...now it has a Minority Wing or two

@sundance

 how many people invaded the capital? How many officers got hurt? She wasn't supposed to be there so.... 

Just for the record, while the appeal was pending they received a large spike in death threats. 

How come the Silent Majority has never won a majority of votes in a presidential election? Doesn’t sound like a majority to me.

Get ready for more death threats after a verdict is reached. I hope the DOJ is paying attention, these domestic terrorists need to do some serious time

@Sidehatch

 Stay in your Bubble Bra' ...I know kinda hard to live in reality....but hey, each to his own 

@Crusher13

 So lets explore your contention a bit. IF Trump is convicted, are you suggesting that there will not be incidents because of it? Is that what you are saying?

Did you watch his venting aggressive rambling tirade just an hour ago? Did he not precisely set the stage for a revolt if he is convicted? I couldnt believe the garbage coming from his mouth and yet everyone lets him ramble on like a dictator as long as he wants.

@wallstreetcappers

 Really?? That's YOUR  reaction to DJT's comments?? Unbelievable.... so essentially you are saying this Jan 6th, 2021 all over again??

Far  from it..guess you didn't like the Mother Theresa comparison?  Please tell the forum you're still our "Man in the Middle"...Please 

Just in Arizona last week..how stunning Spectacular...Monument Valley to LHC...Rte 66..Preskitt....

@Crusher13

 Post 17 that was what I replied to but your position is quite transparent in multiple threads and that is not reason for my reply.

You said he lives in a bubble in post 17, in post 16 he suggested there would be more issues if Trump was convicted, I am following the thread and commented on that.

So in 16 he said issues will arise, post 17 you say he lives in a bubble, in 18 I asked if you are suggesting that there would not be issues IF Trump is convicted. Then in 19 you did not answer the question but fixated on my comments about his pulpit pounding an hour ago. And yep I do think he is positioning what he wants his crazies to do IF he is convicted. There is absolutely no need for his rantings and ramblings unless it is to create more narrative of self pity and feed to the followers to take action.

I do think if he is convicted there will be issues, and I asked the question and will again...is it your contention that IF he is convicted there would NOT be issues? Is that your suggestion?

OMFG..what if he is Elected???

Go read Justice's Alito's Response to Post #15 and #16 what's been happening to him, his WIFE, and HIS home? But yet he respects his WIFE'S sacred whims??

What about Honoring your wife's first Amendment Rights? Would you let her Choose to hang an American Flag upside-down because of the Angry Unhinged Neighbor prescribed in #15 or #16? ..WSC..this goes both ways...your response is in irrational emotional Response to someone emitting the TRUTH..sad but True...it'll be okay....Please...you're much smarter than to debate with an uneducated, semi retired UBER driver who lives in Realville everyday...

Personally, I respect you as forum moderater,  but as an arbitrator, the optics don't Look Good 

Don't exhibit the same Unfairness that DJT is up against now...IT'S NOT the America we Know and Grew up with 

@Crusher13

 So did you answer my question, I dont think so. Lets try one more time. If Trump is convicted do you think that there will be any incidents? 

Alito brought this on himself, he holds one of the highest positions of importance in the USA, he needs to hold himself and his family to a higher standard than what his "wife" decided to do. I dont buy the wife excuse either but lets just go with that. He does not need to be on the SCOTUS he can be one of the rest of us and that means if he drives around in his F350 holding upside down flags then he can do that and nobody really is concerned (I say that because Ive seen that down here) but he decided to be on the supreme court and with that comes responsibility and obligation. Same goes for Thomas, both of them are not holding themselves and their families to to the standard required for holding this position.

Did you listen to his pulpit rant? Why does he need to tear everyone down any time he speaks? Why does he need to insult Biden and Deniro and the judge and Daniels and Cohen and the prosecutors? Why does most every word out of his mouth need to be a tear down? He lacks inner self worth and confidence, he needs to break others down as a means to validate how biggest best greatest worst ever his world is. Trump is an awful person, you can do better than supporting someone who tears others down as his narrative and objective.

You're the "supposive Politics" moderator "..

By your response You're =Alito..Sad but true. You are not Objective and YOU obviously tilt the scales of comments you POST.  ..what was it you would use Deflection #4..

We could only wish for Tim Rousserts Approach.. I  for One, wish for "Some: fairness but it doesn't exist here.  

Do you really think that so many Americans don't see what's going on here. GET A CLUE 

So do you think that IF Trump is convicted there will be incidences or not?

The rest of your stuff is Trump-esque deflecting and wandering, nothing you posted had relevance to the topic.

Do you think IF he is convicted there will be incidences that happen?

So if DJT is found guilty, the worst thing that can happen is Sleepy Joe can label him a FELON???  

Wait until June 27th...AMERICA will hear and SEE the truth if Sleepy Joe even shows...

Your OBVIOUS Hate for the Orange Man couldn't ever be so GLOWING...and you call "Balls and Strikes "..

Please, please, Stay in your Lane...FOR ALL the inmates in here