Latest news with #Brockbank
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
QAnon follower gets 3 years for threatening to ‘execute' Katie Hobbs
Teak Brockbank was sentenced to three years in federal prison for threatening to kill then-Secretary of State Katie Hobbs in 2022. Photo via FBI/Justice Department A Colorado man who wrote online about how he had the right to execute then-Secretary of State Katie Hobbs and made similar threats against Jena Griswold, the Colorado secretary of state, was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison. Teak Ty Brockbank blamed being exposed to far-right extremism content online, including the QAnon conspiracy theory, for motivating him to make online threats. In the criminal complaint for the case, FBI agents included posts from Brockbank that included the common QAnon catchphrase 'WWG1WGA' and references to other QAnon beliefs. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Acronyms are popular among the QAnon community, and the most well known is WWG1WGA, meaning 'Where We Go One, We Go All,' a phrase used as a rallying cry among the 'digital soldiers' of the QAnon community. Brockbank's online avatar was a version of a cartoon frog that has become popular in antisemitic, conspiracy theory and racist online circles. In August 2022, Brockbank posted on the video service Rumble, which has become a favorite platform for misinformation, that people like Hobbs and Griswold were committing treason for alleged election fraud. There is no evidence of widespread election fraud or election fraud perpetrated by Hobbs or Griswold. 'Once these people start getting put to death then the rest will melt like snowflakes and turn on each other and we will sit back why (sic) the worst of them get pointed against the wall as well,' Brockbank wrote in a comment on a Rumble video. 'This is the only way. So those of us that have the stomach for what has to be done should prepare our minds for what we All are going to do!!!!!!' Brockbank, who used to live in Cave Creek, also claimed that he had a right to 'execute' Hobbs in public. '[W]e the people have every right to walk up to one of them and execute them for their actions,' Brockbank wrote in another comment on Rumble. FBI agents also discovered posts Brockbank made stating that, if federal agents came to his residence, he would murder them. 'ATF CIA FBI show up to my house I am shooting them peace's (sic) of shit first No Warning!!' Brockbank wrote in response to a post about the arrest of an ATF agent. 'Then I will call the sheriff!!! With everything that these piece of shit agencies have done I am completely justified to just start dropping them as soon as they step on my property!' While Brockbank said in court that he regrets his decisions and has blamed drinking for his behavior, the U.S. Department of Justice in a recent filing pointed to threatening remarks he aimed at federal officials as recently as 2024 and the discovery he was possessing firearms, when he is a prohibited felony possessor, as indicators of his insincerity. 'There was so much ammunition in the residence that agents elected not to count it,' the DOJ wrote. 'The firearm near the front door, moreover, was loaded and cocked.' Hobbs declined to comment on the sentencing. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Toronto Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Man who says far-right content led him to threaten election officials is sentenced to 3 years
DENVER (AP) — A man who blamed exposure to far-right extremist content for his online threats to kill Democratic election officials in Colorado and Arizona was sentenced to three years in prison Thursday. U.S. District Judge S. Kato Crews said the penalty for such 'keyboard terrorism' needed to be serious enough to deter others, particularly because threats against public officials are on the rise. People need to work out differences through the democratic process, not violence, Crews said. 'The public must not accept this as the norm,' he said in handing down the sentence for Teak Ty Brockbank. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Brockbank, 45, pleaded guilty in October to making threats between September 2021 and August 2022 against Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold and former Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, who is now governor. He also threatened a Colorado judge overseeing his DUI case and threatened to kill any federal agents who came to his house. In a statement, Griswold said conspiracy theories spread by the far right have incited threats and violence against election officials. 'I will not be intimidated,' she said. Brockbank, dressed in a khaki jail uniform, apologized for his 'ugly posts' and said he has turned away from the fear, hate and anger he found online. He asked Crews to sentence him to home detention instead of more time behind bars. Federal prosecutors sought three years in prison for Brockbank, the maximum recommended under sentencing guidelines. He asked for leniency, saying he made the posts when he was drinking heavily, socially isolated and spending his evenings consuming conspiracy theories online. Jonathan Jacobson, a Washington-based attorney for the Justice Department, pointed out that the threats continued during a period when Brockbank wasn't drinking. Brockbank's attorney referred to his client — who has been in jail since he was arrested in August — as a 'keyboard warrior,' pointing out there was no evidence that he planned to carry out the threats. Brockbank spent time on social media sites such as Gab and Rumble, the alternative video-sharing platform that has been criticized for allowing and promoting far-right extremism. The sites delivered 'the message that the country was under attack and that patriotic Americans had a duty to rise up and act,' attorney Tom Ward said in a court filing. He told Crews that Brockbank was drawn to QAnon conspiracy theories and that he regularly consumed online content from Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump's former national security adviser. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Ward noted that the Trump administration's Justice Department was seeking a tough sentence for someone who was influenced by some of the same extremist content that motivated people to attack the Capitol on Jan. 6 and were later pardoned by Trump. But Crews, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, dismissed that as argument, saying the Jan. 6 pardons were granted by a different branch of the government based on separate interests. Before announcing the sentence, Crews read some of Brockbank's threats, including descriptions of how officials should be killed, starting with one in which Brockbank said Griswold should 'hang by the neck.' Crews said he believed Brockbank's remorse was genuine and urged him to follow through with his decision to turn away from hate even though he was going to prison. Brockbank was prosecuted by a task force started under the Biden administration in 2021 to combat the rise of threats targeting election officials. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the task force was still operating. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The unit has been led by the Justice Department's public integrity section in Washington, which has dwindled from more than two dozen lawyers to just a handful as the Trump administration has shifted resources to priorities like immigration and other matters. ___ Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington contributed to this report. Read more on the U.S. Election at
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Cortez man sentenced for threats against Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold
DENVER, Colo. (KREX) — On Thursday, a Federal District Court Judge for the District of Colorado sentenced Teak Ty Brockbank to 37 months of confinement and three years of supervised release. Brockbank had sent threats to multiple public officials between September 2021 and August 2022, including Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold and former Arizona Secretary of State and current Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs. Brockbank pleaded guilty to a count of transmitting interstate threats back in October 2024. He was found in unlawful possession of firearms at the time of his arrest. He was arrested in August 2024 in Cortez, Colorado. Brockbank argued through his counsel that he was influenced by online conspiracy theories and 'brainwashed' by the ecosystem on Gab and Rumble, which perpetuated unfounded conspiracy theories. He asked for leniency for his sentence, citing Trump's pardons of January 6 insurrectionists. Secretary Griswold issued the following statement: 'The far right has spread conspiracy theories to incite threats and violence against secretaries of state and election officials. I will not be intimidated and I will not back down in protecting our democracy and our freedoms.' At least three other individuals have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to making threats of violence toward Secretary Griswold. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Toronto Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Man who blamed exposure to far-right content gets 3 years for threatening election officials
Published May 29, 2025 • 2 minute read FILE - Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold speaks in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, Feb. 8, 2024, in Washington. Photo by Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP DENVER (AP) — A man who blamed exposure to far-right extremist content for motivating his online threats to kill Democratic election officials Colorado and Arizona was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Teak Ty Brockbank pleaded guilty in October to making threats between September 2021 and August 2022 against Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold and former Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, who is now governor. He also threatened a Colorado judge and federal agents. Federal prosecutors sought three years in prison for Brockbank. He asked for leniency, saying he made the posts when he was drinking heavily, socially isolated and spending his evenings consuming conspiracy theories online. His attorney described Brockbank as a 'keyboard warrior' with no intent to carry out the threats. Brockbank spent time on social media sites like Gab and Rumble, the alternative video-sharing platform that has been criticized for allowing and promoting far-right extremism. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The sites delivered 'the message that the country was under attack and that patriotic Americans had a duty to rise up and act,' said Brockbank attorney Tom Ward. Ward said Brockbank was drawn to the QAnon conspiracy theory and noted in a court filing that Michael Flynn and Roger Stone were prominent on Rumble. Brockbank posted online that Colorado's top election official should 'Hang by the neck' and her former counterpart in Arizona should also be put to death. Prosecutors said in a court filing that a prison sentence was warranted in part to deter others from threatening election officials. 'Threats to elections workers across the country are an ongoing and very serious problem,' wrote Jonathan Jacobsen, a Washington-based trial attorney for the Justice Department's public integrity section. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Under the Biden administration, the department launched a task force in 2021 to combat the rise of threats targeting election officials. Brockbank's conviction in the fall was one of over a dozen convictions won by the unit. At the time, the longest sentences handed down was 3.5 years in prison in two separate cases involving election officials in Arizona. In one case, a man who advocated for 'a mass shooting of poll workers,' posted threatening statements in November 2022 about two Maricopa County officials and their children, prosecutors said. In the other, a Massachusetts man pleaded guilty to sending a bomb threat in February 2021 to an election official in the Arizona Secretary of State's office. Brockbank, who has been in custody since his arrest in August 2024, asked to be sentenced to time served plus three years supervised release and possibly six months in home detention or a halfway house. Prosecutors agreed not to pursue charges against Brockbank for having firearms he was barred from possessing because of a previous conviction or for online threats he made later. One such threat was against Griswold last year for her role in helping the prosecution of former Colorado clerk, Tina Peters. Prosecutors say he also threatened judges on the Colorado Supreme Court after they removed Donald Trump from the state's ballot. The U.S. Supreme Court later restored Trump's name to the ballot. Toronto & GTA Columnists Toronto Maple Leafs Columnists World
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Man who blamed exposure to far-right content gets 3 years for threatening election officials
DENVER (AP) — A man who blamed exposure to far-right extremist content for motivating his online threats to kill Democratic election officials Colorado and Arizona was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison. Teak Ty Brockbank pleaded guilty in October to making threats between September 2021 and August 2022 against Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold and former Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs , who is now governor. He also threatened a Colorado judge and federal agents. Federal prosecutors sought three years in prison for Brockbank. He asked for leniency, saying he made the posts when he was drinking heavily, socially isolated and spending his evenings consuming conspiracy theories online. His attorney described Brockbank as a 'keyboard warrior' with no intent to carry out the threats. Brockbank spent time on social media sites like Gab and Rumble, the alternative video-sharing platform that has been criticized for allowing and promoting far-right extremism. The sites delivered 'the message that the country was under attack and that patriotic Americans had a duty to rise up and act,' said Brockbank attorney Tom Ward. Ward said Brockbank was drawn to the QAnon conspiracy theory and noted in a court filing that Michael Flynn and Roger Stone were prominent on Rumble. Brockbank posted online that Colorado's top election official should 'Hang by the neck' and her former counterpart in Arizona should also be put to death. Prosecutors said in a court filing that a prison sentence was warranted in part to deter others from threatening election officials. 'Threats to elections workers across the country are an ongoing and very serious problem,' wrote Jonathan Jacobsen, a Washington-based trial attorney for the Justice Department's public integrity section. Under the Biden administration, the department launched a task force in 2021 to combat the rise of threats targeting election officials. Brockbank's conviction in the fall was one of over a dozen convictions won by the unit. At the time, the longest sentences handed down was 3.5 years in prison in two separate cases involving election officials in Arizona. In one case, a man who advocated for 'a mass shooting of poll workers,' posted threatening statements in November 2022 about two Maricopa County officials and their children, prosecutors said. In the other, a Massachusetts man pleaded guilty to sending a bomb threat in February 2021 to an election official in the Arizona Secretary of State's office. Brockbank, who has been in custody since his arrest in August 2024, asked to be sentenced to time served plus three years supervised release and possibly six months in home detention or a halfway house. Prosecutors agreed not to pursue charges against Brockbank for having firearms he was barred from possessing because of a previous conviction or for online threats he made later. One such threat was against Griswold last year for her role in helping the prosecution of former Colorado clerk, Tina Peters . Prosecutors say he also threatened judges on the Colorado Supreme Court after they removed Donald Trump from the state's ballot. The U.S. Supreme Court later restored Trump's name to the ballot.
