Man Charged with Threatening Democratic Election Officials Set to Enter Guilty Plea

A man accused of threatening to kill top elections officials in Colorado and Arizona is expected to plead guilty in federal court on Wednesday. Teak Ty Brockbank, 45, of Cortez, Colorado, has been in jail since his arrest on August 23. He will face a change of plea hearing after initially pleading not guilty to one count of making interstate threats.

Brockbank’s attorney has informed the court of his intent to change his plea. In federal court, a guilty plea is the only alternative available following a not guilty plea. According to a detention motion, Brockbank expressed during questioning that he did not see himself as a “vigilante,” but rather hoped his words would create awareness.

The investigation into Brockbank began in late 2021, with authorities stating that he advocated for violence against public officials. His threats were directed at notable figures including Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold and former Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, who is now the governor of Arizona. Documents indicate Brockbank was frustrated by the government’s response to Tina Peters, a former Colorado county clerk convicted for facilitating a breach of an election system.

In a concerning social media post from August 2022, Brockbank allegedly suggested that death for certain officials would cause others to “melt like snowflakes.” Initially, Griswold and Hobbs were not named in the arrests, but they were later identified as victims in evidence unsealed in September.

The case escalated when Griswold’s office alerted federal authorities about threatening posts made by Brockbank on platforms like Gab and Rumble, which have been associated with far-right extremism. Brockbank has also made disturbing comments regarding a judge overseeing his DUI probation, expressing a desire to harm the judge.

Further investigation revealed that Brockbank posted threats against federal agents and was found with multiple firearms in his home, despite being legally prohibited from possessing weapons due to a felony conviction. His threats have persisted even after his arrest, with reports of continued intimidation aimed at Griswold following election-related conflicts.

In December 2023, following a key legal decision regarding Donald Trump’s inclusion on the Colorado ballot, Brockbank conveyed alarming thoughts to his stepfather about adding judges involved in the case to his “list.” This reflects a pattern of threats directed at those associated with election security and related judicial decisions.

The Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force, created to protect election workers amid rising violence related to election integrity debates, is pursuing the case against Brockbank. This follows similar successful prosecutions of individuals making threats against election officials since the 2020 election.