DSCC Security Contractor Pleads Guilty to Bomb Threat of Campaign Office

A former Democratic Senatorial Committee Campaign (DSCC) security contractor pleaded guilty to threatening to bomb the Athens-Clarke County DSCC headquarters while the U.S. Senators from Georgia were in town for campaign events.

Jessica Diane Higginbotham aka Jessica Harriod aka Jessica Jones, 35, of Elberton, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of communicating a bomb today before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III. Higginbotham faces a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 7.

“The bomb threat was leveled by an employee for a political organization days before a federal election in Georgia; this incident was a targeted effort to disturb the peace and disrupt the democratic process,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “The immediate response and seamless collaboration by all levels of law enforcement safeguarded the community and helped bring the defendant to justice.”

“The FBI takes all threat-to-life matters very seriously,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This guilty plea demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to hold accountable anyone who tries to intimidate public officials and undermine the foundation of our democracy. It also shows that threatening others with violence and physical harm will have serious repercussions.”

Read more: Department of Justice