INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA
An Iowa man has been arrested as the suspect who threatened to kill Maricopa County Supervisor Clint Hickman and an official with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office over the 2020 election, the Department of Justice announced this week.
The arrest of Mark A. Rissi, 64, of Hiawatha led Hickman to issue a release condemning people in power who remain silent and fail “to denounce threats against election workers and combat the disinformation that imperils our democracy.”
According to the Department of Justice, Hickman received a voicemail on or about Sept. 27, 2021.
In the voicemail that included a number of expletives, the caller threatened to “lynch” Hickman for his position that the 2020 presidential election was fair.
“I am glad that you are standing up for democracy and want to place your hand on the Bible and say that the election was honest and fair. I really appreciate that.
“When we come to lynch your stupid lying Commie (expletive), you’ll remember that you lied on the (expletive) Bible, you piece of (expletive). You’re gonna die, you piece of (expletive). We’re going to hang you. We’re going to hang you.”
Then on or about Dec. 8, 2021, Rissi allegedly phoned the state official, stating that the 2020 election was stolen in Arizona and threatening to hang the official.
“Do your job (victim’s name) or you will hang with those (expletive) in the end. We will see to it. Torches and pitchforks. That’s your future, (expletive). Do your job.”
The DOJ did not mention Hickman by name in its release this week, but the supervisor said he was the county official who received the call.
“I remember exactly where I was when I heard that voicemail. It was chilling. This wasn’t a prank call. This wasn’t protected speech. This was a serious threat to me and my family,” Hickman said in a release.
“I’m grateful to the Department of Justice and the FBI for taking this case seriously and making an arrest, and I’m pleased the U.S. Attorney General has set up a task force to address increased threats of violence to election workers and elected officials.”
However, Hickman said that is not enough.
The supervisor said he, other supervisors and the county recorder have received numerous threats over the last two years.
“And worst of all, county elections staff doing their job honorably are getting calls and emails threatening violence, calling them traitors. It’s despicable,” he said.
“And by and large, people in positions of power, in positions of leadership, in positions of influence here in Arizona are silent. How can you be silent?”
Hickman said he spoke out following the suspect’s arrest with the hope that others will follow his lead.
“Whether it’s a person who shares your politics or your worldview or not, no one should be subjected to this kind of hatred,” Hickman said.
“And if we truly want to keep our country great, we will do everything we can to denounce threats against election workers and combat the disinformation that imperils our democracy.”
Rissi is charged with two counts of making a threatening interstate communication and one count of making a threatening telephone call.
If convicted, Rissi faces a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison for each count of making a threatening interstate communication and up to two years in prison for making a threatening telephone call, according to the DOJ.
The case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force.
