Far-right operatives Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman have agreed to pay $1.2 million to the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James. robocall campaign They organized to suppress the Black vote before the 2020 election.
“Wohl and Burkman orchestrated a corrupt and disinformation campaign to intimidate black voters to sway the election in favor of their candidate. Now they will pay up to $1.25 million,” James said in announcing the deal, which still has to be signed by a judge.
James filed a lawsuit 2021 against a couple known for transparently smearing political opponents of then-President Donald Trump with trumped-up charges. The lawsuit alleged that Wohl and Burkman were responsible for more than 5,000 robocalls filled with disinformation about the August 2020 New York vote.
A speaker at the call identified herself as “Tamika Taylor of Project 1599” and falsely claimed that voting by mail would result in voters’ “personal information being used by police to track old warrants, credit card companies and Centers. For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to track individuals for mandatory vaccinations.
“Don’t hesitate to give your personal information to a man. Stay safe at home and avoid voting by mail,” said a transcript released by James’ office.
Last year, U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero found for Wohl and Burkman is responsible that the calls violated state civil rights laws and the federal Ku Klux Klan Act. “The undisputed evidence in this case establishes that the Defendants’ conduct in designing and executing the Robocall was racially motivated; that the Robocalls sought to discourage eligible black voters from exercising their voting rights by discriminating against them in their civil rights,” the judge wrote. .
Under the terms of the consent decree — worked out with the National Coalition for Black Civic Engagement, the AG’s office, the plaintiffs targeted by the call and an attorney for Wohl and Burkman — the couple agreed to pay $1 million in damages. That amount can be reduced to $393,000 if they make the required payments on time, or up to $1.25 million if they miss payment deadlines.
An attorney for Wohl and Burkman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Both have previously been punished for calls they used in other states. The Federal Communications Commission hit them with a blow $5.1 million fine last year and they admitted his guilt to related charges in Ohio in 2022. They were sentenced to two years of probation and probation 500 hours on voter registration.