Alabama man indicted for threats against Fulton County officials in Trump case

A 59-year-old Alabama man, Arthur Ray Hanson II, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Atlanta. The indictment stems from alleged threats made against key officials in Fulton County, Georgia, who have played a pivotal role in the arrest and prosecution of former President Donald Trump.

Hanson faces charges related to the transmission of interstate threats directed at Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat. These threats appear to be connected to their involvement in the legal proceedings against the former president, whose trial for alleged attempts to influence the Georgia election outcome is set for the coming year.

The case took a significant turn when Hanson made his initial appearance in a federal court in Huntsville, Alabama. His formal arraignment is scheduled to occur in Atlanta in the upcoming month.

The allegations against Hanson primarily revolve around two phone calls he made to the Fulton County government customer service line on August 6, 2023. During these calls, he left threatening voicemails, one addressed to Sheriff Labat and the other to District Attorney Willis.

In the message intended for the sheriff, Hanson is said to have made the ominous remark, “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.” He continued by warning, “… I’m warning you right now before you [expletive] up your life and get hurt real bad.”

Hanson’s messages to District Attorney Willis reportedly contained disturbing statements as well, including advising her to “watch everywhere that you’re going” and suggesting, “there’s gonna be moments when you’re gonna be vulnerable,” among other alarming remarks.

Federal authorities involved in the investigation emphasized the gravity of the charges. Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, expressed, “Threats against public servants are not only illegal, but also a threat against our democratic process. 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.”

It’s important to note that multiple individuals implicated in the extensive Fulton County case have already accepted guilty pleas, including Jenna Ellis and Sidney Powell. As the legal proceedings continue, the case against Arthur Ray Hanson II adds another layer of complexity and underscores the need to address threats against officials involved in high-profile cases.