DETROIT – Andrew Nickels, 38, of Carmel, Indiana, will spend the next 14 months behind bars after being sentenced for a chilling voicemail left for a Michigan election worker. The threat, delivered shortly after the November 2020 election, was a direct response to the official publicly defending the integrity of the vote count she helped administer.
The Justice Department isn’t playing games with attacks on the democratic process. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated bluntly, “The Justice Department has no tolerance for violent threats against election workers, officials, and volunteers, and as this case demonstrates, we will aggressively investigate and prosecute such threats to the fullest extent of the law.” This sentencing isn’t just about one angry man; it’s a warning shot to anyone considering similar intimidation tactics.
Court documents paint a disturbing picture of Nickels’ rage. On or about November 10, 2020, he phoned the local municipality clerk and unleashed a torrent of abuse. “We’re watching your…mouth talk about how you think that there’s no irregularities … [Y]ou frauded out America of a real election,” Nickels ranted. The threats escalated quickly, promising retribution: “You’re gonna pay for it,” and a chilling vision of “ten million plus patriots” surrounding the official. The voicemail included graphic threats of violence, peppered with expletives, including promises to “kill you” and target her family, culminating in a threat to “a [expletive] throat to the knife.”
U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan emphasized the damage such threats inflict. “Threats such as the ones that Nickels made undermine our democracy by making elections workers fearful for their lives and for the safety of their families—just for doing their jobs,” she said. The FBI echoed this sentiment, with Executive Assistant Director Michael Nordwall stating their commitment to protecting election workers from intimidation. This case demonstrates a clear message: attempting to jeopardize free and fair elections through violence will be met with swift and severe consequences.
Nickels pleaded guilty on February 27 to one count of making a threatening interstate communication. The investigation was led by the FBI Detroit Field Office, with prosecution handled by Trial Attorney Tanya Senanayake of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Lee Carlson for the Eastern District of Michigan. This case falls under the umbrella of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force, launched in June 2021 to combat the rising tide of violence and intimidation targeting those involved in the electoral process.
The Task Force, spearheaded by Attorney General Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, isn’t just reactive; it actively engages with the election community and local law enforcement to identify and prosecute these threats. As the 2024 election cycle heats up, the DOJ is sending a clear signal: those who try to disrupt the democratic process through fear and violence will be held accountable. This isn’t about politics; it’s about protecting the fundamental right to vote and the safety of those who make it possible.
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Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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