FBI ramps up investigations of threats against election officials
CNN
The FBI has stepped up investigations of threats against election officials -- in some cases, reaching out for the first time in recent weeks to election supervisors and others who have endured months of harassment, local officials tell CNN.
The activity stems from the creation earlier this summer of a Department of Justice task force to address the rising threats of violence against those officials. And it raises hopes among some election administrators that individuals might finally be held to account for the barrage of threats spurred by falsehoods that the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump.
"I don't think people should be able to call with impunity to say whatever they want and to make threats," said Richard Barron, who oversees elections in Fulton County, Georgia, and has spoken recently with two FBI agents. "I hope they make some arrests."
A Nigerian man has been extradited to the US to face charges in the “sextortion” of a South Carolina teen who died by suicide in 2022. Prosecutors allege the scammer posed as a young woman, persuaded 17-year-old Gavin Guffey to send him nude photos and then threatened to publicize them if Guffey didn’t send money.
A Massachusetts man was arrested on weapons charges after he visited the US Capitol on Monday and told police that he wanted to kill top Republicans, including billionaire investor Scott Bessent on the day the Senate confirmed him as President Donald Trump’s Treasury secretary, according to a Tuesday court filing.