2 conservative operatives get probation for robocalls to discourage Black Detroit voters in 2020 [View all]

Source: AP News

Two conservative political operatives were sentenced to probation Monday for a scheme to discourage Black Detroit voters from voting by mail in the 2020 presidential election, the last court hearing in a multistate effort to blast thousands of robocalls.

Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman were accused of creating robocalls that warned people they could be hounded by police, debt collectors and government vaccine bureaucrats if they voted by mail. Authorities said the bogus messages targeted urban areas that typically vote Democratic.

“Don’t be finessed into giving your private information to the man,” a recorded voice said.

In August, Wohl and Burkman pleaded no contest to voter intimidation, conspiracy and computer crimes after a long, unsuccessful effort to challenge the charges on free speech grounds. A Wayne County judge sentenced them to a year of probation.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/robocalls-2020-election-charges-f90314c280d049b379c8b0ef94db7d99