PHX Reporter

According to a story by KTAR News, Walter Lee Hoornstra, 50, of Tecumseh, was indicted Aug. 16 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri on counts of making an interstate threat and making a threatening interstate phone call.

“These unlawful threats of violence endanger election officials, undermine our electoral process and threaten our democracy,” Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite said in a release by the Justice Department. “The department’s Election Threats Task Force, working with our partners across the country, remains committed to investigating and prosecuting such illegal threats to ensure that these public servants are able to do their jobs free from intimidation.”

The two charges carry total maximum prison sentences of up to seven years, the release added.

According to DOJ information, Hoornstra left Richer a threatening voicemail message on or about May 19, saying, “So, I see you’re for fair and competent elections, that’s what it says here on your homepage for your recorder position you’re trying to fly here. But you call things unhinged and insane lies when there’s a forensic audit going on. You need to check yourself. You need to do your [expletive] job right because other people from other states are watching your ass. You [expletive] renege on this deal or give them any more troubles, your ass will never make it to your next little board meeting.”

Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division said many agencies helped in the investigation and that cases such as this were crucial to democracy working smoothly.

“The FBI is committed to vigorously investigating and holding accountable anyone who threatens election workers,” Quesada said in the release. “These public servants protect our fundamental right to vote by administering fair and free elections. Any attempts to interfere with our elections by intimidating election officials, their staffs and volunteers with threats of violence will not be tolerated.”

Later, Richer personally thanked authorities for securing the charges against Hoornstra.

“Greatly appreciate the FBI acting on this threat,” Richer told KTAR News. “They, as well as some local law enforcement, have been fantastic. Unfortunately, we have plenty more to keep them busy for a while.”

Richer mentioned on Twitter that such incidents as the threat against him may not be isolated in Maricopa County.

"Thanks to @FBI for acting on this one,” he said in a Twitter post Aug. 17. “Very meaningful. Unfortunately, I have PLENTY more to keep them busy. And, even worse, so too do some of the non-public facing members of @RecordersOffice and @MaricopaVote."