New York Attorney General Letitia James had a reason to rejoice on Tuesday when she secured a victory worth $1.25 million. Conservative activists Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman agreed to settle the matter by paying James’ office and other parties involved. This settlement was the result of their involvement in a voter suppression campaign during the 2020 election.
In May 2021, James filed a lawsuit against Wohl and Burkman, accusing them of suppressing Black voters prior to the 2020 election. The Office of the Attorney General conducted an investigation and discovered that Wohl and Burkman had orchestrated a widespread voter suppression campaign. Through the use of robocalls, they disseminated election-related misinformation to Black voters and other demographics, aiming to discourage voting. In March 2023, a federal judge ruled in favor of James in the lawsuit, highlighting the efforts of Wohl and Burkman to undermine the democratic process.
A federal judge ruled last year that the two men were responsible for orchestrating a widespread voter suppression campaign in the summer of 2020. The judge found them liable for deliberately discouraging eligible voters from participating in the 2020 Election, specifically by targeting mail-in voting.
On Tuesday, Wohl and Burkman reached a $1.25 million agreement with James’ office, the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, and several individual plaintiffs. The two men have agreed to pay the judgment to them.
In a statement announcing the settlement, James emphasized the importance of the right to vote as the foundation of our democracy, asserting that it is a right that belongs to everyone. He made it clear that no one should be allowed to threaten this fundamental right. James also pointed out the deplorable and misinformation-laden campaign orchestrated by Wohl and Burkman, aimed at intimidating Black voters and influencing the election in favor of their preferred candidate. As a result, they will now be held accountable and required to pay up to $1.25 million.
James expressed her delight about the agreement on X (formerly known as Twitter), emphasizing her commitment to safeguarding the right to vote.
“Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, two conspiracy theorists, have been ordered to pay up to $1.25 million as a consequence of their racist and dangerous voter intimidation campaign aimed at Black voters. Safeguarding our fundamental democratic right to vote is of utmost importance, and I am committed to defending it,” stated James on X.
If the two men fail to pay at least $105,000 by December 31, 2024, and do not address the failure to pay within 30 days, the amount will increase to $1.25 million, according to a statement from James’ office. However, the agreement still requires approval from a judge.
According to David Schwartz, the attorney representing Wohl and Burkman, his clients are content with the settlement and are looking forward to moving on from this case. He stated, “We are pleased to have this matter resolved, allowing them to concentrate on their families and careers.”
Wohl and Burkman have previously faced penalties for running similar schemes during the 2020 election, and now they have reached a settlement.
In 2022, an Ohio judge issued a ruling against the two men who were accused by authorities in Ohio of orchestrating a voter suppression campaign across several states. As part of their punishment, the judge ordered them to dedicate 500 hours to registering voters from low- and middle-income backgrounds in the Washington, D.C., area.
The Federal Communications Commission made headlines in 2021 when it proposed a record-breaking fine of $5 million against them for their involvement in robocalling. An investigation revealed that they were in violation of U.S. robocalling laws. During the investigation, both Wohl and Burkman confessed under oath to being responsible for creating and financing the robocalls. These calls targeted voters in Michigan, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, according to the FCC.