Hiawatha man sentenced to federal prison for threatening to lynch Arizona officials

A Hiawatha man was sentenced to two and a half years in prison Monday on federal charges that he left threatening voicemail messages for an Arizona county election official and the Arizona Attorney General

Mark A. Rissi, 64, pleaded guilty in April to two counts of sending a threatening interstate communication.

“This sentence makes clear that individuals who illegally threaten election officials and others associated with the electoral process will face meaningful penalties,” Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the U.S. Justice Department’s Criminal Division said in a news release.

Rissi was accused of leaving a voicemail message for Clint Hickman, an election official with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, on Sept. 27, 2021.

“Hello Mr. Hickman, I am glad that you are standing up for democracy and want to place your hand on the Bible and say that the election was honest and fair. I really appreciate that. When we come to lynch your stupid lying Commie [expletive], you’ll remember that you lied on the [expletive] Bible, you piece of [expletive]. You’re gonna die, you piece of [expletive]. We’re going to hang you. We’re going to hang you,” Rissi said in the message, according to a news release.

Two months later, on Dec. 8, 2021, Rissi left another message with then-Attorney General of Arizona Mark Brnovich:

“This message is for Attorney General Mark Brnovich … I’m a victim of a crime. My family is a victim of a crime. My extended family is a victim of a crime. That crime was the theft of the 2020 election. The election that was fraudulent across the state of Arizona, that the Attorney General knows was fraudulent, that the Attorney General has images of the conspirators deleting election fraud data from the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors computer system. Do your job, Brnovich, or you will hang with those [expletive] in the end. We will see to it. Torches and pitchforks. That’s your future, [expletive]. Do your job.”

Rissi was arrested Oct. 6, 2022.

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Hiawatha man charged with threatening to lynch Arizona voting officials

In court on Monday, Rissi’s attorney, Anthony James Knowles, told the judge that at the time of the calls, there was "a lot of misinformation being promulgated" by Rissi's family and the media.

"People start believing this stuff," Knowles said. "Again, not a justification."

At the sentencing hearing, Rissi stood when it was his turn to speak — and he expressed remorse.

"First, I'd like to offer my apologies to the victims," he said.

Amid his mom's time in hospice during the coronavirus pandemic, Rissi said he had spent hours listening to his brother "ranting and raving" about allegations of election improprieties in Arizona. In the months after her death, Rissi said he was taking medication for his own ailments that he says altered his behavior. His voice cracking, he recounted how his wife had told him one day that he had called someone the night before and was screaming into a phone. Rissi said he didn't know what he'd done until the FBI showed up at his door.

"It was horrifying," he recalled of his reaction to hearing his voicemail to Hickman.

"I did this," he said. "It's my fault. I accept responsibility. And I'm deeply sorry."

Hickman, who also spoke at the sentencing, asked the judge to show Rissi "grace, humility, charity" and compassion.

Despite the Justice Department’s request for a 24-month sentence, U.S. District Judge Dominic Lanza, a Trump nominee, sentenced Rissi to 30 months in prison.

Lanza said he hoped the punishment would deter those dissatisfied by future election outcomes, showing that there is an "unambiguous and serious line" that cannot be crossed when contacting public officials. He echoed concerns voiced by a prosecutor about an alarming exodus of government election workers amid a hostile and threatening environment. He said a "general deterrence" was "extremely important."

"This cuts to the core of how our democracy works," Lanza said.

The judge appeared sympathetic to Rissi but noted that the Iowan had made two threatening calls separated by several weeks. He gave Rissi until Jan. 8 to report to federal authorities, allowing him to spend the holidays with his loved ones, some of whom sat behind him throughout the proceedings.

"I believe," the judge said, "I am acting with compassion."

Emily Andersen of The Gazette and The Washington Post contributed to this report.