2 Million for Black Voter Suppression Robocall Campaign

In a significant legal development, far-right operatives Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman have agreed to pay up to $1.2 million to the New York Attorney General Letitia James' office in a settlement related to a robocall campaign aimed at suppressing the Black vote ahead of the 2020 election. The announcement was made by Attorney General James on Tuesday but is awaiting final approval by a judge.

The lawsuit, filed by Letitia James in 2021, accused Wohl and Burkman, notorious for spreading false accusations against former President Donald Trump's political opponents, of orchestrating a disinformation-filled campaign designed to intimidate Black voters and influence the election outcome. The suit alleged that the pair was responsible for over 5,000 misleading robocalls disseminating false information about voting in New York in August 2020.

The robocalls identified the speaker as "Tamika Taylor of Project 1599" and made baseless claims that voting by mail would lead to personal information being used by law enforcement to track warrants, credit card companies for debt collection, and the CDC for mandatory vaccine tracking. The transcript of the call, released by James' office, urged recipients to avoid "giving private information to the man" and to "stay home safe and beware of vote by mail."

U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero ruled in favor of James' claims last year, holding Wohl and Burkman liable for violating state civil rights laws and the federal Ku Klux Klan Act through racially motivated conduct. The judge emphasized that the robocalls were aimed at deterring eligible Black voters, infringing upon their civil rights through discrimination.

Under the terms of the consent decree, reached in collaboration with the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, plaintiffs targeted by the robocalls, and the attorneys representing Wohl and Burkman, the pair agreed to pay $1 million in damages. However, the amount can decrease to $393,000 if they meet payment deadlines or increase to $1.25 million if they fail to comply.

It is worth noting that Wohl and Burkman faced penalties for similar actions in other states as well. The Federal Communications Commission levied a $5.1 million fine against them last year, and they pleaded guilty to related charges in Ohio in 2022, resulting in two years of probation and 500 hours of voter registration work.

If approved by the judge, this settlement marks a significant step towards holding individuals accountable for attempts to suppress voter participation, particularly those targeting marginalized communities. The agreement underscores the importance of protecting the voting rights of all citizens and highlights the consequences that await those who engage in voter suppression tactics.

Ultimately, it serves as a reminder that disinformation campaigns and attempts to undermine the democratic process will not go unanswered, as law enforcement and civic organizations continue to work diligently to safeguard the integrity of elections in the United States.