Cape Cod Man Pleads Guilty To Bomb Threats Toward Now AZ Governor

FALMOUTH, MA — A Cape Cod man pleaded guilty to sending a bomb threat to now Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs in 2021, who at the time was the Secretary of State.

According to the United States Department of Justice, around Feb. 14, 2021, James Clark, of Falmouth, allegedly sent the following message, addressed to an election official, via the website contact form of the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office elections division:

“Your attorney general needs to resign by Tuesday February 16th by 9 am or the explosive device impacted in her personal space will be detonated.”

Around the same time, Clark searched online for the address of the elections official, and also searched "how to kill" that official, the indictment said. Clark also searched the terms "fema boston marathon bombing" and "fema boston marathon bombing plan digital army."

Clark pleaded guilty to one count of making a threatening interstate communication. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 26 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the department’s efforts to "address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers — whether elected, appointed, or volunteer — are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation."