Christian Smith
(The hill) – Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, denounced the growing threats to election officials as “domestic terrorism” and said he and other offices are working with law enforcement agencies across the country to address the issue.
“And I think about what we were talking about a moment ago, one of the ways I’ve been looking at this and approaching this is by telling the really hard truth,” Fontes said during his appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” part of an episode recorded that will air on Sunday.
“And this is it: the threats against election officials in the United States of America are domestic terrorism,” he continued. “Terrorism is defined as a threat or violence to a political outcome. That’s what it is.”
He was one of four secretaries of state who participated in the bipartisan “Meet the Press” panel that discussed threats to democracy. Fontes was also joined by Jocelyn Benson of Michigan, Brad Raffensperger of Georgia and Al Schmidt of Pennsylvania.
Fontes’ comments come as local election workers have increasingly been afraid for their safety before the November elections. A survey from the Brennan Center for Justice, released earlier this month, found that nearly four in 10 local election workers have dealt with harassment, threats and abuse while doing their jobs.
Those responsible for law enforcement are working to ensure greater security for election workers in Arizona, one of several decisive states in the presidential race. Grand Canyon State workers were targets of threats and harassment during the 2020 general election.
“And I think the Department of Justice is really stepping up and starting to prosecute,” Fontes said. “We are working with law enforcement agencies across the country to really begin to address these issues. It’s not too little, it’s not too late, but we have to deal with it for what it is.”
Arizona was one of seven states where lists of “alternate electors” were sent in hopes of being recognized as “duly elected” without any basis. The idea was to get then-Vice President Mike Pence to recognize “alternative voters” who supported Trump over those who ran for Biden.
Fontes said that while the threats had an impact on him and his family, he shared that it would take much more to get him “out of office.”
“It impacted not just us, but also our families, as you mentioned,” he said. “But not just our families. You know, when you have to tell your neighbors, ‘Hey, pay attention. If something happens, the kids might have to come here, or have their bags packed, or do any of these things that so many people across the country have had to suffer through, that’s a problem.”
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