A Pennsylvania man has been charged with threatening to kill a representative of a state political party involved in recruiting poll watchers. The indictment, unsealed today, accuses John Pollard, 62, from Philadelphia, of sending threatening text messages on September 6 to the victim, referred to as Victim 1. The victim had posted online about recruiting volunteers for Election Day and included their phone number.
Pollard allegedly expressed interest in being a poll watcher before sending three threatening messages to Victim 1. These messages included violent threats and derogatory language.
Pollard was arrested and appeared in federal court in Philadelphia. He faces one count of transmitting interstate threats, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison if convicted. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering various factors.
The announcement was made by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri and U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The FBI Pittsburgh Field Office is investigating the case.
The prosecution is led by Trial Attorney Jacob R. Steiner from the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole A. Stockey for the Western District of Pennsylvania, with support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force initiative launched in June 2021 by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco to address violence against election workers.
Under Deputy Attorney General Monaco's leadership, the task force includes several Justice Department entities such as PIN, Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Civil Rights Division, National Security Division, FBI, and interagency partners like Homeland Security and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
For more information on efforts against threats to election workers or to report suspected threats or violence, individuals are encouraged to contact local FBI offices or file complaints online.
An indictment is an allegation; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.