Conservative operatives Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman have agreed to a settlement requiring them to pay $1.25 million for their involvement in a robocall campaign aimed at deterring Black New Yorkers from voting by mail during the 2020 U.S. election.
This settlement comes after a federal judge in New York held Wohl and Burkman liable in March 2023 for orchestrating a scheme that disseminated false and threatening messages to dissuade Black voters from participating in the electoral process.
New York Attorney General Letitia James condemned their actions, describing their campaign as “depraved” and filled with disinformation aimed at influencing the election outcome.
The robocalls, which were distributed during the summer of 2020, falsely claimed that voting by mail could result in individuals being tracked for various legal issues, including outstanding warrants, credit card debt, and mandatory vaccinations.
As a result of these deceptive tactics, the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, was compelled to allocate substantial resources to address the misinformation propagated by the calls.
Throughout the 2020 presidential campaign, then-President Donald Trump and his allies repeatedly made baseless allegations of voter fraud associated with mail-in balloting.
The robocall campaign, which extended beyond New York to cities such as Cleveland, Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, and others, underscores broader efforts to undermine confidence in the electoral process.
David Schwartz, legal counsel for Burkman and Wohl, expressed his client’s satisfaction with the settlement, noting their desire to move past the legal proceedings and focus on personal and professional endeavors.
This settlement follows Burkman and Wohl’s prior conviction for telecommunications fraud in Ohio related to similar robocall activities during the 2020 election, further underscoring the legal repercussions they have faced for their actions.
Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) levied a substantial fine of $5.1 million against Burkman and Wohl for their unlawful robocall practices.
Burkman, known for promoting conspiracy theories, including the false narrative surrounding the 2016 killing of DNC staffer Seth Rich, has faced professional consequences, such as losing his law license.
