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BloombergOCT 12 2024
A mailbox was set on fire on Thursday in Phoenix, Arizona, damaging approximately 20 electoral ballots. 35-year-old Dieter Klofkorn has been arrested in connection with the incident.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, Klofkorn admitted to committing arson "because he wanted to be arrested," but that his actions "were not politically motivated." He's been charged with one count of Arson of Property.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said many undamaged ballots were saved and "affected voters will be contacted." A Maricopa County official asked voters who used the mailbox over the last 36 hours to check their ballot status online, as Oct. 25 is the last day to request a replacement.
After some worry, it turns out by the suspects very own admission that this was not a politically-motivated attack. Klofkorn, who already had an outstanding arrest warrant, simply wanted to be put in jail. Luckily, it also seems that the amount of ballots destroyed is lower than the initial number of 20 that Phoenix police had revealed were damaged.
While this incident may not have been election-related, fears of political violence in Arizona remain very real. This week alone, a man was arrested in connection with three shootings at a DNC office, while a 17-year-old was arrested on terrorism charges after planning to bomb a pride event. It will take much more to ease the minds of many Arizona residents.