Arthur Ray Hanson II, a man from Huntsville, Alabama, has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison after leaving threatening voicemails for two Georgia officials, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Sheriff Patrick Labat.
Hanson, who made the calls in August 2023, warned the officials of violence if they continued investigating former President Donald Trump for potential election crimes. Hanson’s threats came days before Trump and others were indicted in Georgia under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act for alleged efforts to overturn the state’s 2020 election results.
Hanson reportedly expressed frustration over Trump’s mugshot and used explicit, racially charged language, referring to Trump as my president. He later admitted responsibility, though he claimed to have been drinking and said he did not recall making the calls. His attorneys argued for leniency, citing his remorse and his guilty plea.
However, federal prosecutors noted a pattern of behavior, including previous threats in 2018 and a recent threat against U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, which they argued showed a disregard for the law and highlighted the need for a strong deterrent.
U.S. District Judge J. P. Boulee sentenced Hanson to 21 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, noting the importance of protecting public officials from intimidation. This case is part of a broader trend of escalating threats against officials involved in politically sensitive cases, especially those related to Trump.
Researchers at West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center reported record highs in such prosecutions, underscoring the impact of these threats on democratic governance and public service, as well as the need for strengthened security measures to protect officials.