Former Voting Machine Critic Indicted in Colorado Office Firebombing

A Longtime Critic of Voting Machines Faces Arson Charges

A long-time critic of voting machines and local government has been charged with arson for allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail-like device into the office that houses voting equipment in his Colorado mountain community. William Wayne Bryant appeared briefly in court on Wednesday, where he was informed of the charges related to the June 12 firebombing of a county building in Pagosa Springs. The attack caused a fire that damaged Dominion Voting Systems equipment in the county clerk’s office and also affected the assessor’s office located upstairs, according to police.

According to court documents, Bryant faces two counts of arson and one count of using an explosive or incendiary device. His attorney, David Karl Ottman, emphasized that his client is presumed innocent. During the court appearance, Ottman expressed concerns about officials, including Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, making public statements about the case and releasing photos of the damaged election equipment. Ottman requested the judge to issue an order limiting what officials can say about the case, but Judge Justin Fay did not act immediately, noting that he could not impose restrictions on individuals outside his jurisdiction.

Griswold, a Democrat who serves as Colorado’s chief election official, described the attack as an example of how conspiracy theories have “destabilized” elections. However, no motive has been provided by the authorities so far. Police stated that the device was thrown through a window into a room in the clerk’s office that housed the Dominion equipment.

Bryant has long been critical of Dominion Voting Systems and has also spoken out against taxes and rising property valuations. He has also voiced opposition to encouraging students to be vaccinated, based on minutes from county commissioners’ meetings. His actions follow years of false claims surrounding elections and voting systems, which were pushed by President Donald Trump and his allies after his 2020 election loss. Many of these claims focused on Dominion Voting Systems, despite there being no evidence of widespread fraud or manipulation of voting systems.

Accusations of Election Fraud and Personal Rivalry

Bryant ran unsuccessfully for sheriff in the county in the scenic San Juan Mountains in 2022. During this time, he repeatedly urged county commissioners to abandon the Dominion election equipment and count ballots by hand in the election he lost. At a May 2022 meeting, Bryant claimed that the debunked film “2,000 Mules” had exposed voter fraud and asked the commissioners to stop using Dominion equipment. After his defeat, he suggested in a video on his campaign page that “Dominion algorithms” were responsible for his loss.

“They don’t want patriots, people that are willing to stand up and fight for this country,” he said. In another video from May 2023, Bryant expressed outrage over a significant increase in property valuations, suggesting that some people might have to sell their properties due to unaffordable taxes. The video, titled “Taxation without Representation,” claimed that the local 2022 election had been stolen from him and another candidate.

Investigation and Public Reaction

Police identified Bryant as the only person in the area at the time of the fire, based on surveillance video presented as evidence in an arrest affidavit. The document also noted that Bryant had criticized Dominion equipment during meetings with county commissioners and had expressed “anti-government views” on social media, calling taxation “extortion.”

Impact on Local Elections

Archuleta County clerk and recorder Kristy Archuleta said a sheriff's deputy woke her up the night of the fire. She arrived around 2:30 a.m. and learned that the fire had occurred in a locked room where ballots are counted. A Dominion ballot scanner and computers used to review ballots were among the items damaged, she said.

“It’s just scary to think that somebody is going to be that angry that they’re going to light our workspace on fire,” Archuleta said recently. “What if this was done during the day? Lots of people could have been hurt.”

Archuleta, a Republican elected in 2018, said the county of some 12,000 active, registered voters has largely been supportive of the office’s work, which also handles motor vehicle registration and marriage licenses. However, she mentioned a vocal group upset about the use of voting machines since the 2020 election who have sought a move to hand counting.

Because of the damage to her office, Archuleta and her employees are currently working in a conference room while waiting for a new temporary office. Regardless of where they end up working, she said they still need to have the ballot for the next election certified in the next two months.