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This week, the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force (ETTF) made significant strides in addressing threats to election personnel, with four individuals from across the United States being charged and convicted for sending violent messages to election officials. Among those facing consequences is Brian Jerry Ogstad, a 60-year-old man from Cullman, Alabama, who was sentenced to 30 months in prison for issuing threats to Maricopa County Elections officials in Phoenix during and after the Arizona primary elections in August 2022.
From August 2-4, 2022, Ogstad sent a series of direct messages to election workers, threatening violence. One message read, “You did it! Now you are f*****. Dead. You will all be executed for your crimes,” highlighting the intensity of these threats. In another, he transmitted an image of a well-known character from the “Toy Story” franchise lying face down with a projectile in its back, further underscoring the menacing nature of his threats. Ogstad was sentenced on Monday to serve his prison term, followed by three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona condemned Ogstad’s actions, saying, “In this election season, we honor and respect those public servants who enable Americans to exercise their constitutional right to vote. And we seek to protect all election workers from intimidation and harassment. Threats of violence, whether conveyed by words, deeds, or pictures, will be met with robust prosecution.”
The ETTF, created by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021, aims to safeguard election workers by investigating and prosecuting those who engage in violence or intimidation. “As we approach Election Day, the Justice Department’s warning remains clear: anyone who illegally threatens an election worker, official, or volunteer will face the consequences,” said Garland. He reaffirmed the department’s commitment to protecting election integrity, stating, “For our democracy to function, Americans who serve the public must be able to do their jobs without fearing for their lives.”
Other defendants in related cases include Teak Brockbank from Colorado, Richard Glenn Kantwill from Florida, and John Pollard from Pennsylvania, each facing charges or convictions for making threats against election officials and public figures.
The FBI Director, Christopher Wray, emphasized the importance of protecting election workers, calling the threats “incomprehensible and unacceptable.” He vowed that the FBI and ETTF would “work tirelessly to charge and arrest those callous enough to make these threats and make sure they are held accountable.”
The convictions and ongoing investigations highlight the Justice Department’s continued efforts to ensure the safety of election officials and maintain the integrity of the electoral process.
