Oklahoma man accused of sending threats to election officials released with conditions

OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma City man accused of mailing more than 700 letters with threatening messages and white powder to election officials across the country has been released from custody. 

U.S. Magistrate Judge Shon Erwin signed an order Monday allowing Robin Patrick Martin, 67, to be released as long as he complies with a series of mandated conditions. Those include surrendering his passport, seeking employment, not owning a gun or similar weapons. He must seek a mental health assessment and receive the recommended treatment, according to court filings. 

He is charged with mailing threatening communications and with conveying false or misleading information and hoaxes in the U.S. Western District of Oklahoma. 

Martin will also be monitored by GPS and may not travel outside of the federal court’s jurisdiction, which includes 40 of the state’s counties and covers the western half of Oklahoma. 

Federal public defenders representing Martin did not return messages seeking comment. 

A postal inspector testified Monday that after he was arrested, Martin in an interview admitted to mailing more than 700 letters and using advice from artificial intelligence tools on how to stay anonymous, according to The Oklahoman. 

The inspector testified that Martin also apologized for his actions, according to The Oklahoman. 

He’s accused of sending hundreds of mailings with white powder, threatening messages and letters about a “DECLARATION OF WAR” to election officials, members of Congress, pollsters, media organizations and the FBI in 2024 and 2026. Some mailings had a return address for the “United States Traitor Elimination Army,” while others were from “DSA NEW YORK NY,” according to an affidavit from an FBI agent. 

FBI field offices determined the mailings, sent both years, were associated with the same sender who they identified as Martin. This includes an October mailing sent to the Oklahoma State Election board that contained an unknown white powder. 

If Martin violates any of the conditions of his release, he’ll be subject to arrest, revocation of his release, revocation of his $5,000 bond and could be subject to further prosecution or imprisonment on top of his current charges, according to a court filing.