The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced it has arrested and charged a Massachusetts man in connection with an alleged communication to a state election official in the Arizona Secretary of State’s office that contained a bomb threat.
James W. Clark, 38, of Falmouth, is charged with one count each of making a bomb threat, perpetrating a bomb hoax, and communicating an interstate threat; a recent U.S. Attorney’s Office news release said.
Kenneth A. Polite Jr., assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, noted that threats put election workers and officials in a dangerous position and also undermine the nation’s democracy.
“Our Election Threats Task Force, working with partners across the nation, will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute illegal threats like these to hold accountable those who threaten our democracy,” he said in the release.
Clark recently made his initial federal court appearance in Boston, the release said.
U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino noted in the release that Arizona has professional local, county and state elections officials who are fair and impartial, and by protecting them democracy is protected.
Chris Ormerod, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office, commented in the release that the agency takes all life-threatening communications and calls seriously, and this case demonstrates that effort. He added that the indictment shows there are consequences for such actions.
