Michigan Man Convicted for Racially Motivated Assault on Postal Worker Over Harris Mailer

Russell Valleau, a 62-year-old man from Farmington Hills, Michigan, was found guilty of assaulting a U.S. Postal Service worker during a racist tirade over a Kamala Harris campaign flyer. On September 26, 2024, Valleau confronted the Black mail carrier, shouting profanities and racial slurs, and threatened her with a knife after she advised him to leave unwanted mail in his mailbox. The jury convicted him of assaulting a federal employee but acquitted him of using a dangerous weapon. Valleau's actions, described as racially motivated, drew condemnation from U.S. Attorney Julie Beck, who stated that such behavior is intolerable. Following the incident, Valleau continued to use offensive language while in police custody. He faces up to one year in prison, with sentencing scheduled for May 27.