Livonia Man Threatens Oakland County Elections Official: Prosecutor

PONTIAC, MI — A Livonia man was charged in connection with threatening an Oakland County election official in December 2023, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office.

Andrew Hess, 37, was charged with making a false report or threat of terrorism. Prosecutors did not release bond information and his next court date. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $20,000, or both.

Prosecutors said the incident happened during a recount of several local elections at the County Complex in Pontiac on Dec. 15, 2023.

During the recount, Hess walked out of the recount room and said "hang Joe for treason," according to the prosecutor's office.

Another person also heard Hess make the statement and reported the incident to law enforcement, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Prosecutors said that comment was in reference to Oakland County Director of Elections Joe Rozell.

"The integrity of our elections is essential to democracy," Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said. "We need dedicated, ethical public servants to conduct that process, and to do it transparently - we should invite public scrutiny. But there are individuals who seek to undermine the integrity of the election process by threatening and intimidating election workers and supervisors. Those threats don't just impact our election workers, they put our democracy at risk, and they will not be tolerated. I will do everything within my power to hold those who make such threats accountable."

No further information was released by prosecutors.