Far-right Activists Plead No Contest in Detroit Voter Suppression Case

Far-Right Operatives Plead No Contest in Election Voter Suppression Case

In a notable legal outcome, two individuals associated with far-right activism, John Burkman and Jacob Wohl, have pleaded no contest in relation to a controversial robocall campaign aimed at discouraging Black voter participation in Detroit during the 2020 elections.

This development follows their unsuccessful attempts to appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court, which ultimately declined to hear their case again in June. The pair had argued that their activities fell under free speech protections. For more insights into their legal journey, please see the details here.

Michigan's Attorney General Dana Nessel stated that Burkman and Wohl conducted a targeted robocall operation, particularly within urban demographics, disseminating misleading information. The robocalls inaccurately warned residents that voting by mail might result in the sharing of their personal details with law enforcement agencies and credit institutions. To listen to the audio of one such robocall, click here.

During the months leading up to the general election, approximately 12,000 individuals linked to Detroit received these misleading calls. The robocalls contributed to the charges leading to their no contest plea encompassing four felony counts.

The intentions behind the false claims were explicit; they sought to undermine voter confidence in mail-in voting by suggesting that personal information could be misused. The specific charges Burkman and Wohl faced are as follows:

• Bribing or intimidating voters

• Conspiracy to commit an election law violation

• Using a computer to bribe or intimidate voters

• Using a computer to conspire to commit an election law violation

By entering a no contest plea, the defendants accept the penalties associated with their actions without formally admitting guilt. Their sentencing is scheduled for December 1 in Wayne County.

This case is not the first instance in which Burkman and Wohl have encountered legal action for their conduct. A federal court required them to conduct corrective calls to rectify the misinformation they propagated, while an Ohio court sentenced them to 500 hours of community service related to voter registration. Moreover, they reached a settlement in New York that involved a financial penalty exceeding $1 million. For further information about these legal circumstances, refer to the articles here, here, and here.