Hoax Bomb Threat Shakes Pima County on Election Day, Promising ‘Many Wounded’

This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access.

Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly faced a disturbing threat when she received an email claiming to contain a bomb in her office. The chilling message, which she immediately reported to law enforcement, specifically mentioned her office’s address and boasted of a hidden explosive device.

The email, obtained through a public records request, was sent around 5:30 p.m. on November 5, coinciding with Election Day. Cázares-Kelly’s initial response was cautious but tinged with skepticism, as the FBI had previously announced that similar threats across multiple states were deemed noncredible. Nevertheless, she prioritized the safety of her staff.

A bomb-sniffing dog was dispatched to sweep the premises, which also houses a courthouse. Cázares-Kelly reassured her team they could leave if they felt uncomfortable, but no one chose to evacuate once the situation was assessed. Ultimately, it was confirmed there was no actual threat.

“We were very aware that this was meant to cause disruption to the voting process, and frankly, we have been prepared for this,” Cázares-Kelly mentioned.

Hoax bomb threats targeted election officials in ten of Arizona’s fifteen counties, including locations in Coconino, Cochise, Gila, La Paz, Maricopa, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai, and Yuma. A spokesperson for Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes indicated these threats were aimed at election centers, polling places, and recorder’s offices throughout the state.

The nature of the responses varied widely across counties. Some areas, notably Cochise, La Paz, and Maricopa, opted for evacuations, while Pima County maintained operations. Law enforcement agencies frequently deployed bomb-sniffing dogs to ensure building safety.

The FBI is continuing its investigation into the threats, and initial findings suggest a potential link to Russian sources. While the agency has not conclusively connected the individual threats, the seriousness of the situation has been made clear.

In response to a public records request, the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office declined to disclose specific threats or sender information. However, the Pima County Recorder’s Office provided the text of the email, which bore the subject line “My manifesto” from the address maga_sam@mailum.com. The threat indicated a detonation was planned for when police were present.

When Cázares-Kelly received the email threatening her office, she had already heard about similar incidents. Despite expecting such a notification, she found the message distressing to communicate to her staff.

“You announce something like that, it’s very scary,” she remarked. However, the security measures in place, including surveillance cameras and secure access points, offered some reassurance. Her team remained vigilant, particularly with mail ballots under strict tracking protocols.

Ultimately, the bomb-sniffing dog completed its sweep without incident. Cázares-Kelly expressed relief at taking the precautions necessary to protect her staff, highlighting the emotional toll of addressing threats even when doubt lingers about their authenticity.