Jack Burkman

This article is about the lobbyist and conspiracy theorist. For the political candidate, see 2006 Washington House of Representatives election.

Jack Burkman
Jack Burman standing at a podium
Jack Burkman in August 2020
Born1965 or 1966 (age 58–59)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Pittsburgh (BA)
Georgetown University (MS, JD)
OccupationLobbyist
Known forFalse claims against political figures
Political partyRepublican
Criminal chargesTelecommunications fraud
Criminal penaltyFine, probation, and community service

Jack Burkman (born 1965 or 1966[1]) is an American conspiracy theorist, fraudster, convicted felon and conservative lobbyist.[2][3][4] Burkman and far-right conspiracy theorist Jacob Wohl have allegedly been responsible for multiple unsuccessful plots to frame public figures for fictitious sexual assaults, including in October 2018 against U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller, in April 2019 against 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, and in April 2020 against White House Coronavirus Task Force member Anthony Fauci.[5][6][7][8]

In August 2020, Burkman and Wohl made tens of thousands of robocalls to residents of battleground states, in a campaign that prosecutors have alleged intentionally targeted communities of color to spread disinformation in an attempt to suppress voting in the 2020 presidential election. As a result of the campaign, Burkman and Wohl each pleaded guilty to one felony charge of telecommunications fraud in Ohio,[9] were found to have violated federal and state civil rights laws in a civil case in New York,[10] and are facing a criminal suit in Michigan.[11] In June 2023, the Federal Communications Commission imposed a fine of more than $5 million against both Burkman and Wohl over the robocall scheme.[12]

Burkman was also involved in spreading conspiracy theories about the 2016 murder of Seth Rich, and in 2017 Burkman was shot in the buttocks and thigh and hit with a car by a man he had hired to assist him in an independent attempt to solve Rich's murder.[13][14] Burkman drew significant media attention in 2014 for organizing a protest against the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL after the team signed Michael Sam, an openly gay football player, to its practice squad.[15][16][17]

Burkman is the president of the lobbying firm J.M. Burkman & Associates and the head of the conservative organization American Decency.[a][18][19] He was the host of the Behind the Curtain podcast and radio talk show.[3][20]

In September 2024, Burkman claimed on X that he had taken on the role of acting campaign manager for Mark Robinson's gubernatorial campaign. However, Robinson quickly denied this in his own post on X, stating that "Online rumors of new hires to our campaign are just that—rumors."[21]

  1. ^ Foley, Ryan J. (October 1, 2020). "Conservative hoaxers face charges over false voter robocalls". The Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  2. ^ Prokop, Andrew (October 30, 2018). "The incredibly shoddy plot to smear Robert Mueller, explained". Vox. Archived from the original on October 31, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Cummings, William (October 31, 2018). "Jack Burkman: The conspiracy theorist accused of offering money for Mueller allegations". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 1, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Zadrozny, Brandy; Collins, Ben; Winter, Tom (October 30, 2018). "Mueller refers sex misconduct scheme targeting him to FBI for investigation". NBC News. Archived from the original on November 2, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  6. ^ Bertrand, Natasha (October 30, 2018). "Mueller Wants the FBI to Look at a Scheme to Discredit Him". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on November 2, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference dailybeast_2019-04-29 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference :12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Daniels, Cheyanne M. (March 9, 2023). "Judge says Jacob Wohl, Jack Burkman violated Voting Rights Act, KKK Act with 2020 voter suppression". The Hill. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  11. ^ "Michigan's top court to look at 2020 election robocall case". AP News. November 3, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference :27 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Sieczkowski, Caven (September 4, 2014). "Anti-Gay Group To Protest Michael Sam, Cowboys In The Name Of 'Family Values'". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on September 5, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  16. ^ Voorhees, Josh (February 24, 2014). "Even the Conservative Lobbyist Hyping a Ban on Gay NFL Players Admits It's a PR Stunt". Slate. Archived from the original on September 5, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  17. ^ Prince, Jeff (September 4, 2014). "Thousands to Protest Cowboys, Michael Sam". Fort Worth Weekly. Archived from the original on September 6, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  18. ^ Markay, Lachlan (May 16, 2019). "Buttigieg and Mueller Hoaxer Jack Burkman's Partner Got Pentagon Contracts". The Daily Beast. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference LGBTQNation was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Roig-Franzia, Manuel; Reinhard, Beth (June 4, 2019). "Meet the GOP operatives who aim to smear the 2020 Democrats — but keep bungling it". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  21. ^ Reporter, Ewan Palmer News (September 23, 2024). "Mark Robinson denies appointing far-right fraudster as campaign chief". Newsweek. Retrieved September 26, 2024.


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