An Alabama man was sentenced to more than a year in prison after leaving threatening voicemails against two Georgia officials who are investigating and prosecuting former President Donald Trump for possible election crimes, the Justice Department announced this week.

A U.S. District Court judge in Georgia sentenced Arthur Ray Hanson II, of Huntsville, Alabama, to 21 months in federal prison for phoning in threats in August 2023 against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, and Sheriff Patrick Labat. Federal prosecutors said Hanson referred to Trump as “my president” in calls left on the Fulton County government customer service line and warned the two officials they would face violence if they did not stop investigating Trump.

Hanson made the threats almost a week earlier. Trump and 18 others were indicted by a Georgia grand jury over the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act in an attempt to overturn Georgia’s results of the 2020 election for Trump. Federal prosecutors said Willis and Labat increased security for themselves and their families because of threats since the indictment.

“Public servants have a responsibility to enforce our criminal laws, and anyone who threatens to harm or intimidate them will face consequences for their actions,” said United States Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan.

Hanson’s sentencing is the latest development facing lawyers, judges and other officials when prosecuting or investigating politicians. Researchers of the The Counterterrorism Center at West Point said in May that A preliminary review of cases from 2023 to 2024 showed that federal prosecutions of these threats are “on track to reach new all-time highs.” Researchers found that at least 75 people were arrested for threats in 2023, and more than 30 were “subject to federal prosecution” in the first quarter of 2024.

“Threats do not need to be executed beyond communication to be effective agents in instilling fear among victims and, above all, disrupting democratic processes,” the researchers found. “Threats to public officials are currently generating substantial harm related to the governance of the United States, including deterring people from running for public office.”

Man warns lawyer and sheriff about impending deaths

Federal prosecutors said Hanson left a minute-long voicemail for both officials on Aug. 6, 2023. Hanson admitted to authorities that the threats stemmed from frustration over seeing Trump’s mugshot.

“If you think you’re going to take a mugshot of my President Donald Trump and everything will be fine, you’re going to find out that after you take that mugshot, some bad things are probably going to happen to you,” Hanson said in a Voicemail for Labat.

According to court documents, Hanson used “racist and profanity-laced language” when he threatened both Willis and Labat. Both officials are black.

“And you think because you’re a law enforcement officer that he’s going to protect you, he’s not,” Hanson said in a voicemail to Willis. “It’s going to be bad and you’re going to rue the day you (expletive) were born good.”

Hanson’s attorneys requested a lesser sentence because he showed remorse for making the threats and was drinking at the time. They said his previous guilty plea to threats showed he took responsibility for the calls.

“Mr. Hanson does not remember making the phone calls; however, he does not deny making them and accepts full responsibility for his actions,” his attorneys said in court papers.

That didn’t sway federal prosecutors. They said in court documents that Hanson has a history of threats dating back to 2018. In that case, he was convicted of calling a company multiple times and threatening to harm a person and their job.

Federal prosecutors added that Hanson threatened U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas a month after telling officials he would not make any more calls. In that call, he told the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness that Mayorkas should be hanged, prosecutors said.

“The need to provide general deterrence is particularly important in these polarized times, so that others know that when they threaten public officials, they will face serious punishments including prison terms,” ​​federal prosecutors said in court papers. “In addition, this prison time will protect the public from Hanson continuing to make threatening calls.”

U.S. District Judge JP Boulee ultimately sentenced Hanson to 21 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Public officials face threats for investigating politicians

Hanson’s threatening messages are not the first in the country. Several people have been arrested or convicted for making violent threats against judges, lawyers and law enforcement officials prosecuting politicians.

Threats have increased against those pursuing cases involving Trump.

He The electoral case against Trump in Georgia is on hold until an appeal seeking Willis’s disqualification from the racketeering case is resolved. Trump and eight defendants want to overturn Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee’s ruling that allowed Willis to remain on the case despite allegations of misconduct and financial conflict of interest.

In September, US Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department Staff have faced an escalation of intimidation attacks since taking charge.

In May, Marc Shultz of Chula Vista, California, He was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly threatening Willis. Federal prosecutors said Shultz posted comments on YouTube videos threatening to kill Willis “like a dog.”

Abigail Jo Shry from Alvin, TexasHe was arrested in August 2023 for allegedly threatening to kill a judge overseeing Trump’s prosecution. The week before, The FBI shot and killed Craig Robertson of Provo, Utah, while trying to arrest him for posting threats on social media against a Manhattan district attorney who indicted Trump and President Joe Biden.

In July 2023, Adam Bies pleaded guilty to 14 charges. of threatening federal officials. He made the threats after FBI Director Christopher Wray condemned a wave of violent threats against the agency following its raid on Trump’s residence and the Mar-a-Lago club.

West Point researchers said the threats represent a growing tolerance for violence and extremism faced by civic leaders. They recommended security agencies review which sectors face the most frequent threats and tighten measures to keep those employees safe from physical violence.

“Without concerted intervention by policymakers, authorities and the public, the damage to government systems will likely only increase in the foreseeable future,” the researchers said.

Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter,@KrystalRNurse.

This article originally appeared in USA TODAY: Alabama Man Goes to Prison for Threats Against Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis