An indictment has been handed down against a 59-year-old Alabama man, Arthur Ray Hanson II, for purportedly making threats against officials in Fulton County, Georgia, who were involved in the arrest and prosecution of former President Donald Trump.
A federal grand jury in Atlanta has charged Hanson with transmitting interstate threats aimed at causing harm to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat, primarily due to their roles in the arrest and prosecution of the former president.
Trump is set to face trial next year concerning alleged efforts to influence the presidential election results in Georgia.
Hanson’s initial court appearance took place in federal court in Huntsville, Alabama, and he is scheduled to be arraigned in Atlanta next month.
According to prosecutors, Hanson placed two calls to the Fulton County government customer service line on August 6, 2023, leaving two voicemails.
“If you think you gonna take a mugshot of my President Donald Trump and it’s gonna be ok, you gonna find out that after you take that mugshot, some bad [expletive]’s probably gonna happen to you,” Hanson allegedly said in his message to sheriff. “I’m warning you right now before you [expletive] up your life and get hurt real bad.”
The first voicemail was directed at Labat, while the second was for Willis.
In the messages intended for Willis, Hanson is said to have made threatening statements, warning her to “watch everywhere that you’re going” and suggesting moments of vulnerability.
“Threats against public servants are not only illegal, but also a threat against our democratic process,” Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta said. “The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution. We take this responsibility very seriously and seek to punish those who engage in this type of criminal behavior, and to send the message that such conduct will not be tolerated.”
Federal officials involved in the investigation have underscored the gravity of the charges brought against Hanson. It’s worth noting that several individuals implicated in the extensive Fulton County case have already entered guilty pleas, including Jenna Ellis and Sidney Powell.
