An Alabama man accused of threatening prosecutors over the politically motivated case against former President Donald Trump in Georgia was sentenced to nearly two years in prison.
Arthur Ray Hanson, II, of Huntsville, pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting interstate threats. The FBI investigated the case, and Hanson was convicted in July.
The 59-year-old will spend one year and nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay a $7,500 fine.
Hanson is accused of threatening Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Trump was arrested last year and charged with 13 counts in connection to election interference. Five of those charges have been dropped.
“Public servants have a responsibility to enforce our criminal laws, and anyone who threatens to harm or intimidate them will face the consequences of their actions,” said President Joe Biden-nominated U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners who diligently worked to ensure public officials are free to perform their essential work without the threat of physical attack.”
Buchanan said Hanson called the Fulton County Government customer service line twice and left two voicemails.
The message for Labat included the following statements:
“If you think you gonna take a mugshot of my President Trump and it’s gonna be okay, you gonna find out that after you take that mugshot, some bad [expletive]’s gonna happen to you;”
“If you take a mugshot of the President and you’re the reason it happened, some bad [expletive]’s gonna happen to you;”
“I’m warning you right now before you [expletive] up your life and get hurt real bad;” and
“Whether you got a [expletive] badge or not ain’t gonna help you none;” and “you gonna get [expletive]ed up you keep [expletive]ing with my President.”
The message for Willis included the following statements:
“Watch it when you’re going to the car at night, when you’re going into your house, watch everywhere that you’re going;”
“I would be very afraid if I were you because you can’t be around people all the time that are going to protect you;”
“There’s gonna be moments when you’re gonna be vulnerable;”
“When you charge Trump on that fourth indictment, anytime you’re alone, be looking over your shoulder;” and
“What you put out there, [expletive], comes back at you ten times harder, and don’t ever forget it.”
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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