A threat to democracy was averted with the arrest of a California man accused of making violent threats against an Arizona election official, law enforcement sources said. William Hyde, 52, of San Diego, was nabbed for allegedly leaving a menacing message on the personal cell phone of a staffer at the Maricopa County Recorder's Office in Phoenix following the certification of the 2022 election results.
Hyde, who's slated to appear in federal court in San Diego tomorrow, reportedly left a series of messages for the official on November 29, 2022, with voicemails stating "Run, [expletive]" and launched into a tirade accusing the official of rigging the election, telling the official to 'run' and 'hide,' according to an indictment unsealed by the U.S. Department of Justice, never has democracy seemed so vulnerable as when the very individuals tasked with its upkeep are threatened, stand in the crosshairs of its own beneficiaries.
In a statement obtained by the U.S. Department of Justice, Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri emphasized the stakes, saying, "The indictment alleges that the defendant accused the official of cheating the election and told the official to ‘run’ and ‘hide,’” and vowed that the department will not tolerate criminal intimidation of election officials. U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath for the Southern District of California echoed these sentiments, pointing out that "Intimidation of election officials strikes at the very heart of our democracy."
The case has been investigated by the FBI San Diego Field Office with assistance from the FBI Phoenix Field Office. The severity of such threats is underscored by the potential penalties that Hyde faces. One count of communicating an interstate threat carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison—a stark reminder of the consequences of undermining the electoral process, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Trial Attorneys Tanya Senanayake and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Askins and Mary Sue Feldmeier are leading the prosecution, showcasing collaborative efforts to shield the integrity of American elections. The case falls under the purview of the Department's Election Threats Task Force.
Such cases are a poignant part of the ongoing efforts by the Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force, established by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, to protect election workers from violence and intimidation. U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino for the District of Arizona praised the work of the Maricopa County officials for registering voters and ensuring transparent vote tabulation. The public has been urged by the task force to report threats or violent acts against election workers to their local FBI office or through the FBI hotline and website.
