“A Massachusetts man was sentenced today to three years and six months in prison for sending a communication containing a bomb threat to an election official in the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office. According to court documents, on or about Feb 14, 2021, James W Clark, 40, of Falmouth, sent a message via the Arizona Secretary of State’s website through ‘Contact Elections,’ addressing the election official by her first name and warning her that she needed to ‘resign by Tuesday February 16th by 9 am or the explosive device impacted in her personal space will be detonated.'”

“Shortly after transmitting the message, Clark conducted online searches that included the full name of the election official in conjunction with the words ‘how to kill’ and ‘address.’ Additionally, on or about Feb 18, 2021, Clark conducted online searches involving the Boston Marathon bombing.”

“In response to Clark ‘s message, law enforcement conducted partial evacuations and bomb sweeps of the building in which the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office was located, including an evacuation of the floor of the Office of the Arizona Governor located in the same building. Law enforcement also conducted bomb sweeps of the election official’s personal residence and of the official’s car. Clark pleaded guilty in August 2023 to one count of making a threatening interstate communication… This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Attorney General Merrick B Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa O Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the Department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers – whether elected, appointed, or volunteer – are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation” says a Justice Department press release.