An Ohio woman has been ordered to show up in a Lansing courtroom on March 31st to face charges of terrorism and ethnic intimidation related to phone messages left with two Michigan lawmakers.
“You won’t see the bullet coming. Let me tell you that” was part of one of the voicemail messages, according to the Michigan Attorney General’s office. Also: “We’ll be coming to Michigan soon to remove you from your post” and “You’re going to die.”
The graphic messages also included racial and gender slurs, and were left with the offices of Democratic state Representatives Cynthia Johnson of Detroit and Sarah Anthony of Lansing. Both are Black.
Sandra Bachman of Batavia in southern Ohio is charged with two counts of malicious use of telecommunications services, one count of ethnic intimidation, and one count of a threat of terrorism. The terrorism charge alone carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
“The rise in threats against elected officials will not be tolerated,” Nessel said in a statement from her office. “Those who think hiding behind a phone or a keyboard will prevent from facing criminal charges are severely mistaken.”