Thursday, November 28, 2024 - Several nominees for Donald Trump’s cabinet and White House team have been targeted by bomb threats and swatting incidents, according to law enforcement and the Trump transition team. The FBI confirmed it is investigating "numerous bomb threats" alongside "swatting incidents," where hoax calls prompt an armed police response to the victim’s home.
The wave of threats began on Tuesday night and continued
into Wednesday morning. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s nominee for US ambassador to
the United Nations, was among the first to report being targeted. Her office
disclosed that she was informed of a bomb threat against her family home while
traveling with her husband and three-year-old son from Washington to New York
for Thanksgiving.
Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump’s transition team,
described the threats as "violent, unAmerican acts" and assured the
public that law enforcement had acted swiftly to ensure the safety of those
targeted. "With President Trump as our example, dangerous acts of
intimidation and violence will not deter us," she said. However, neither
Leavitt nor the FBI disclosed the identities of all those targeted.
New York police later confirmed that Howard Lutnick, Trump’s
nominee for commerce secretary, was among those whose homes were threatened.
Separately, Lee Zeldin, nominated to head the Environmental Protection Agency,
reported that a "pipe bomb threat" accompanied by a “pro-Palestinian
themed message” was sent to his home. Zeldin and his family were not present at
the time of the threat.
Brooke Rollins, Trump's pick to lead the Department of
Agriculture, also shared that her family was threatened on Wednesday morning in
Fort Worth, Texas. In a post on X, she expressed gratitude to local law
enforcement for their swift response and professionalism.
Florida Republican Matt Gaetz, who recently withdrew from
consideration as US attorney general, confirmed that his Niceville home was
targeted by a bomb threat. Police found no devices after searching the area.
Fox News reported that John Ratcliffe, Trump’s nominee for CIA director, and
Pete Hegseth, the nominee for defense secretary, were also among those
targeted.
While Trump himself was not among the recipients of these
threats, the incidents underscore the growing risks faced by high-profile
political figures in an increasingly polarized climate. Last year, swatting
tactics were employed against politicians across the political spectrum, with
incidents peaking around Christmas.
The spate of threats follows similar hoaxes targeting judges
and prosecutors involved in Trump’s criminal cases, raising concerns about
escalating hostility in the political arena. Authorities have not yet announced
any arrests related to the recent incidents, but investigations are ongoing.
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