An Alabama man has been charged in connection with threats against Fani Willis, the prosecutor who brought the election interference case against former President Donald Trump and his allies in Fulton County, Georgia, according to court documents unsealed Monday. The charges were filed by a federal grand jury in Atlanta, and Arthur Ray Hanson II of Huntsville, Alabama, is accused of transmitting interstate threats to injure Willis over her involvement in the election case, as stated in a news release by the Justice Department.
Hanson made a threatening voicemail to Willis before Trump was indicted in the Fulton County probe in August. The voicemail specifically referred to the forthcoming indictment and warned Willis to watch her back when she was alone. Similarly, another voicemail was left by Hanson, threatening Sheriff Patrick Labat if he took a mugshot of Trump.
The sheriff’s office proceeded to take mugshots of all the defendants, including Trump, and his photo was released on August 24. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Both Willis and Labat have received threats for simply doing their job.
The FBI in Atlanta condemned threats against public servants, calling them a threat against our democratic process. The U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia also condemned efforts to intimidate prosecutors and law enforcement officers, stating that it is a vile act that interferes with the administration of justice and intimidates those protecting people’s rights.
This is not the first time charges have been filed against individuals who threatened public officials involved in cases related to Trump. In August, a Texas woman was charged with threatening U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is presiding over Trump’s election interference case in Washington, D.C.
Trump has a history of attacking prosecutors and judges involved in cases against him, but has displayed more restraint in the classified documents case presided over by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, one of his appointees.
For the full article, visit NBCNews.com.
