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‘I hope your children get molested!’ Trump supporter accused of threatening election workers on Jan. 7
January 27, 2022
An apparent supporter of former president Donald Trump is facing federal charges after allegedly making multiple threatening phone calls to elections officials in the Nevada Secretary of State's Office on Jan. 7, 2021 — one day after the Capitol insurrection.
Gjergi Luke Juncaj, 50, of Las Vegas was arrested by the FBI on Wednesday and charged with four counts of making threatening phone calls, each punishable by up to two years in prison, according to the Department of Justice.
Ostensibly inspired by Trump's false claims of widespread fraud in the November 2020 election, Juncaj first called the Secretary of State's Office at 8:07 a.m. on Jan. 7 and was transferred to the elections division, according to a criminal indictment.
“I want to thank you for such a great job you all did on stealing the election,” Juncaj allegedly told an employee. “I hope you all go to jail for treason. I hope your children get molested. You are all going to f*cking die.”
Twelve minutes later, Juncaj called again and was transferred to the same employee. "You are all going to die," he repeated in a raised voice.
Five minutes after that, Juncaj called again and said: "You guys really f*cked this election up," adding that election officials were "all going to die."
"This is what you're going to f*cking get from now on," Juncaj said on a fourth call that morning. "You are all going to f*cking die and it is what you deserve."
After the employee reported the threats to the Nevada Capitol Police, an officer called Juncaj's number. Juncaj allegedly raised his voice and accused the officer of harassing him.
The case against Juncaj was brought by the DOJ's Election Threats Task Force, which was formed last June "to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers — whether elected, appointed or volunteer — are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation."
In December, Reuters documented more than 850 threatening and hostile messages aimed at election officials and staff related to the 2020 election, in 30 jurisdictions in 16 states.
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'He had everyone enraged': MAGA rioters pin blame on Trump — and it could impact fellow defendants
January 27, 2022
On Thursday, CBS News' Scott MacFarlane, the leading correspondent covering the January 6 criminal cases, explained how one defendant's plea for mercy could ultimately impact other trials moving forward.
"At first, it was just a curiosity," said MacFarlane. "Something I heard a few times, jotted down in my notebook, and kind of left it there. But now it's happening so often, it's worth a deeper review. One after another, January 6th defendants, when they go before a judge to seek leniency, are using some variation of the phrase 'caught up in the moment,' or 'caught up in the crowd,' 'caught up in the fervors,' 'swept up in the crowd,' 'caught up in the chaos.' It's becoming a refrain."
MacFarlane then zeroed in on a particular case that caught his attention.
"Today was sentencing day for Zachary and Kelsey Wilson of Missouri," continued MacFarlane. "And in their sentencing hearing, we heard it nearly a half dozen times. Some variation of 'I was caught up.' Kelsey Wilson said she was 'caught up in everything.' Zachary Wilson said something a little more unique, saying, 'I was caught up in President Trump telling everybody the election was stolen. He had everyone enraged.' The judge listened to those arguments, and sentenced Zachary and Kelsey Wilson to a short period of home detention and probation. Prosecutors were seeking 14 days behind bars for both."
READ MORE: White House reporter shows how Mike Pence 'actively sabotaged' Trump's phony electors scheme
"But the thing is, it's not just the defendants," said MacFarlane. "Increasingly, we are hearing judges using a variation of that refrain. In fact, the judge sentencing the Wilsons today said that Kelsey Wilson seems to have gotten 'caught up.' Now, it's far from clear whether there's any connection between that phrase and leniency at sentencing, but it's quite likely other January 6th defendants who've yet to plead guilty or yet to face sentencing are listening in or getting reports about what's happening in the other cases. And likely, they're hearing this. And this refrain could continue, it could increase."
"There are more than 700 federal defendants. As of tonight, the U.S. Justice Department tells me about 200 have pleaded guilty," added MacFarlane. "Which means there are many more who will face a judge, seek leniency, and have an opportunity to argue about being 'caught up.'"
Watch below:
Jan 6 defendant pleading for leniency says he was \u201cCaught up in President Trump telling everybody the election was stolen. He had everyone enraged"\n\nThose words could impact future defendants at sentencing \n\nMy latest ====>pic.twitter.com/F311xqZbem— Scott MacFarlane (@Scott MacFarlane) 1643327059
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Donald Trump Jr. says intel officials are 'lying' about potential for Russian cyberattack in bizarre Hannity rant
January 27, 2022
Donald Trump Jr. cast doubt on intelligence warning that Russia could launch a cyberattack on American assets during an animated appearance on Sean Hannity's show on Thursday.
Trump Jr. said that talk of Russian retaliation for America's assistance to Ukraine was part of an effort by Democrats to distract from domestic problems.
"I get to read reports saying that intelligence is saying that Russians may be launching a cyber attack on America," Trump Jr. said. "I don’t think so! I imagine that’s our people lying to us to try to instigate getting us into another war to distract from the incompetence!"
READ MORE: White House reporter shows how Mike Pence 'actively sabotaged' Trump's phony electors scheme
Although President Joe Biden has provided military assistance to Ukraine to defend itself against Russian aggression, he has repeatedly ruled out sending American troops into the country to fight against Russia.
Trump Jr. then went on to claim that Ukraine is "calling in favors" from Biden to cover up his son's alleged corruption, despite the fact that multiple European countries are also sending military assistance to the nation.
Watch the video below.
Jr: I get to read reports saying that intelligence is saying that Russians may be launching a cyber attack on America. I don\u2019t think so. I imagine that\u2019s our people lying to us\u2026pic.twitter.com/jEhDTbgKrW— Acyn (@Acyn) 1643336829
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