Great Lakes Wire

John Burkman and Jacob Wohl have entered no contest pleas to charges related to a robocall campaign aimed at discouraging Black voters in Detroit from participating in the 2020 general election. The announcement was made by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

The two Virginia men admitted to one count each of election law bribing or intimidating voters, conspiracy to commit an election law violation, using a computer to intimidate voters, and using a computer for conspiracy. The felonies carry maximum sentences ranging from five to seven years.

“After five years, I’m glad this case has finally reached a resolution,” Nessel said. “Deceptive and racially targeted suppression schemes will not be tolerated in Michigan. My office will continue to pursue and prosecute voter intimidation, no matter how long it takes, to ensure that Michiganders can exercise their right to vote free from fear and deception.”

According to the Attorney General’s office, Burkman and Wohl created and funded robocalls targeting several urban areas nationwide including Detroit. Nearly 12,000 calls were made in late August 2020 to phone numbers registered with Detroit addresses. The calls falsely claimed that voting by mail would put personal information into public databases accessible by police seeking people with outstanding warrants, credit card companies collecting debts, or the Centers for Disease Control tracking individuals for mandatory vaccines.

The robocall identified Burkman and Wohl as responsible parties and named them as founders of “Project 1599.” It warned recipients not to be “finessed into giving your private information to the man,” urging caution about voting by mail.

Following charges filed in 2020 by the Attorney General’s office, both men were bound over for trial but attempted multiple appeals through Michigan courts. Their legal efforts included motions before the circuit court, Court of Appeals, and Michigan Supreme Court. Ultimately, both appellate courts ruled against them at various stages; most recently the state Supreme Court declined further appeal after lower courts upheld criminal charges.

Burkman and Wohl are scheduled for sentencing on December 1 before Judge Margaret VanHouten in Wayne County Circuit Court.