By JILL COLVIN
NEW YORK (AP) — A number of of President-elect Donald Trump ‘s Cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats and “swatting attacks,” Trump’s transition mentioned Wednesday.
“Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them,” Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt mentioned in an announcement.
She mentioned the assaults “ranged from bomb threats to ‘swatting.’ In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire Transition team are grateful for their swift action.”
Swatting entails producing an emergency legislation enforcement response in opposition to a goal sufferer underneath false pretenses.
The FBI mentioned in an announcement that it’s “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees, and we are working with our law enforcement partners. We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.”
Amongst these focused was New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s decide to function the following ambassador to the United Nations.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., is seated earlier than President-elect Donald Trump arrives at a gathering of the Home GOP convention, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photograph/Alex Brandon)
Her workplace mentioned that, Wednesday morning, she, her husband, and their 3-year-old son have been driving dwelling from Washington for Thanksgiving after they have been knowledgeable of a bomb risk to their residence in Saratoga County.
“New York State, County law enforcement, and U.S. Capitol Police responded immediately with the highest levels of professionalism,” her workplace mentioned in an announcement. “We are incredibly appreciative of the extraordinary dedication of law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe 24/7.”
In Florida, in the meantime, the Okaloosa County sheriff’s workplace mentioned in an advisory posted on Fb that it “received notification of a bomb threat referencing former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a home in the Niceville area around 9 a.m. this morning.”
Whereas a member of the family resides on the deal with, they mentioned “former Congressman Gaetz is NOT a resident. “The mailbox however was cleared and no devices were located. The immediate area was also searched with negative results.”
Gaetz was Trump’s preliminary decide to function legal professional normal, however he withdrew from consideration amid allegations that he paid girls for intercourse and slept with underage girls. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and mentioned final 12 months {that a} Justice Division investigation into intercourse trafficking allegations involving underage ladies had ended with no federal costs in opposition to him.
The threats comply with a political marketing campaign marked by uncommon violence. In July, a gunman opened hearth at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the then-candidate within the ear with a bullet and killing considered one of his supporters. The U.S. Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination try at Trump’s West Palm Seashore, Florida, golf course when an agent noticed the barrel of a gun poking by way of a fringe fence whereas Trump was {golfing}.
Related Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer and Eric Tucker contributed to this report from Washington.
Initially Revealed: November 27, 2024 at 10:19 AM PST
