Public records show Microsoft and AT&T have complied with subpoenas issued as part of the investigation into a threatening email received by a high-ranking member of the Cochise County Attorney’s Office a few weeks before the Nov.8 General Election.
On Thursday, the first public record related to the ongoing investigation was released by the Sierra Vista Police Department (SVPD), which took over the investigation due to a conflict of interest with having the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) look into the threat.
The investigation began Oct.22 when the county employee opened an email from toddpolson@live.com. The employee was publicly involved in providing legal advice to the Cochise County Board of Supervisors concerning various election matters.
“Attention ALL Corrupt and Treasonous Government Officials…If you C*** Lickers continue to f*** with the integrity of the AZ Elections…I guarantee you, We the People will remove you from office…Additionally, if you own a home…We will find you through the Tax Assessors Website…Remember the French revolution of 1799??”
Sheriff Mark Dannels went public about the email the next day in hopes someone would recognize the wording used by the sender or even the sender’s email address. In the meantime, CCSO Det. Sgt. Todd Borquez served at least one emergency search warrant on Microsoft.
Live.com, like hotmail.com and msn.com, are Microsoft products but the ability to open a new live.com account was discontinued several years ago.
CCSO detectives routinely investigate crimes suspected of being committed by or committed against Cochise County employees. However, it decided on Oct. 28 to have SVPD take the case because the victim’s job for the county attorney’s office frequently involves addressing legal matters with Dannels and his staff.
A redacted SVPD police report obtained by Arizona Daily Independent refers only to investigative actions through Nov. 30, as the case is still active. Among the accrued evidence noted by the SVPD investigator is a “spreadsheet provided by Microsoft” which was received by Borquez.
The report also notes that the IP address connected with the email account was identified as well as the Internet Service Provider (ISP) used to send the Cochise County email. The ISP was served with at least one subpoena, according to the report.
The name of the IP account holder was not included in the redacted report nor does it include a suspect’s name.
The SVPD report also confirms at least two FBI special agents have been in contact with the SVPD detective assigned to the case. The FBI was asked back in October by then-Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs to investigate a seemingly identical email from toddpolson@live.com received by Hobbs and then-State Elections Director Kori Lorick.
Days before the emails were sent, Lorick had issued a warning letter on behalf of Hobbs to the Cochise County Board of Supervisors concerning plans by two of the supervisors to conduct a full hand count. No update has been made available by state officials nor the FBI concerning the status of the Hobbs-Lorick investigation.
Anyone with information about the emailed threats can contact the Sierra Vista Police Department at 520-452-7500.