Man pleads guilty to threatening to kill Michigan election worker

Indiana man pleads guilty to threatening to kill Michigan election worker, Department of Justice (DOJ) It was announced on Tuesday.

Andrew Nickels, 37, of Carmel, Indiana, called a clerk at his local election office shortly after the 2020 election and left a voicemail threatening to kill the employee.

Nickels said, according to information released by the Department of Justice. “We’re watching you…as you say things you think are innocent.”[Y]You fooled our America and stole a real election. ”

Officials “are going to pay,” Nickels said, adding that “more than 10 million patriots will surround you when you least expect it.” He said a group of patriots intended to kill his employees and that they “deserve the death penalty.” [expletive] Put the knife to your throat,” the official added, adding that people should watch their backs.

Nickels pleaded guilty to interstate wire threatening.

“Election officials and officials play a critical role in protecting free and fair elections. The Bureau of Criminal Investigations undermines this core tenet of our democracy by threatening election officials with violence. We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who attempt to do so,” Nicole Argentieri, acting assistant attorney general at the Justice Department, said in a statement.

Nickels is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9, and could face up to five years in prison, according to the Justice Department.

The FBI’s Detroit field office investigated the incident. The Justice Department said Nickels’ case is part of an ongoing election threat task force created by Attorney General Merrick Garland in June 2021.

Michigan was one of the few battleground states that flipped from red to blue in 2020 and helped elect President Biden. Michigan, like other swing states, has been at the center of political controversy, with contested election results and election officials facing threats and intimidation.