A 63-year-old man admitted he sent threatening text messages to a member of a political party who was recruiting poll watchers.

John Courtney Pollard, of Philadelphia, changed his plea Wednesday from not guilty to guilty of a single count of making interstate threats.

In September 2024, the victim, a political party employee, posted their personal phone number on social media and asked individuals interested in working as poll watchers to contact them.

Pollard sent one text message to the victim’s phone at around 10 p.m. Sept. 6:

“Hey, (redacted). I’m interested in being a poll watcher.”

When ten minutes passed without a reply from the victim, Pollard sent another message, police say:

“I will KILL YOU IF YOU DON’T ANSWER ME!

Your days are numbered, (EXPLETIVE).

GONNA (EXPLETIVE) FI

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