Conservative activists Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman have agreed to pay up to $1.25 million in a settlement over a robocall campaign that allegedly targeted Black voters and aimed to discourage them from voting by mail in the 2020 election. New York Attorney General Letitia James sued Wohl and Burkman in 2021, and a New York judge found them liable for violating federal and state law by orchestrating a voter suppression operation. The settlement requires them to pay a $1 million judgment to James’ office, the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, and individuals targeted in the campaign, with the potential for the amount to increase to $1.25 million if they fail to make a payment by the end of the year.
The robocall campaign, orchestrated by Wohl and Burkman, utilized misinformation to dissuade Black voters from voting by mail. One false claim in the calls suggested that submitting a ballot by mail would result in personal information being made accessible to police departments and debt collection agencies, while also alleging that mail-in voting records were being used to track individuals for mandatory vaccines. David Schwartz, the attorney for Wohl and Burkman, stated that they were pleased to have reached an amicable settlement with the plaintiffs, in order to move past the case and focus on their families and careers. The settlement is pending court approval.
Burkman, a conservative activist and lawyer in his 50s, along with his associate Wohl, gained notoriety for making outlandish accusations against Trump’s political rivals leading up to the 2020 election. Burkman had previously spread conspiracy theories about DNC staffer Seth Rich and had held a press conference in 2018 claiming to have evidence of sexual assault allegations against former Special Counsel Robert Mueller, which ultimately proved to be unsubstantiated. The settlement over the robocall campaign is the latest in a series of legal issues for Wohl and Burkman, who had also pleaded guilty to telecommunications fraud in Ohio in 2022 over similar allegations.
The robocall campaign targeted 5,500 New Yorkers with false claims intended to deter them from voting by mail during the 2020 election, at a time when mail-in voting was being promoted as a safe alternative for voters amid the pandemic. Former President Donald Trump and his supporters had raised concerns about the integrity of mail-in voting, despite there being no evidence of widespread fraud in the system. The settlement with Wohl and Burkman serves as a significant consequence for their alleged voter suppression tactics and misinformation campaign aimed at Black voters in New York.
The settlement with Wohl and Burkman represents a significant legal victory for New York Attorney General Letitia James in holding accountable those who engage in voter suppression tactics. By requiring them to pay a substantial judgment and potentially more if they fail to meet the terms of the settlement, the agreement sends a strong message about the consequences of attempting to disenfranchise voters. The case also highlights the importance of protecting the right to vote and ensuring fair and equitable access to the electoral process for all individuals, regardless of race or political affiliation.
