A federal judge has ruled that Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, right-wing political operatives, violated the Voting Rights Act and the Ku Klux Klan Act by creating and distributing robocalls in an attempt to suppress votes in the 2020 presidential election. The robocalls, which were made to over 80,000 voters, falsely claimed that personal information provided in mail-in ballots would be used to track down individuals for outstanding debts, arrest warrants, and mandatory vaccination.
The judge found that the robocalls were intentionally discriminatory and targeted Black voters. The robocalls were made in areas where there were large Black populations, such as Detroit and urban areas of New York. The false and intimidating nature of the robocalls could be seen as an attempt to intimidate and prevent Black voters from participating in the election. The judge ruled that Wohl and Burkman’s actions violated federal civil rights law, which is aimed at protecting minority communities from voter suppression tactics.
As part of the ruling, the judge ordered Wohl and Burkman to issue a corrective robocall to all recipients of the initial message, informing them of the false and discriminatory nature of the previous message. This would serve as a corrective measure to the harm caused by the initial robocalls. Failure to comply with the court order could result in criminal contempt charges.
The ruling sends a strong message to those who seek to use voter suppression tactics to undermine the democratic process. It also highlights the need to protect the right to vote, particularly for historically marginalized communities who have been disproportionately impacted by voter suppression.
Primary Sources: The Hill, Law and Crime
Factual Confidence: 100% Verified (Multiple Sources, Court Ruling)
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