Amongst these focused was New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s decide to function the subsequent ambassador to the United Nations.
NEW YORK — A number of of President-elect Donald Trump ‘s Cupboard picks and appointees have been focused by bomb threats and “swatting assaults,” Trump’s transition stated Wednesday.
“Final evening and this morning, a number of of President Trump’s Cupboard nominees and Administration appointees had been focused in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and people who reside with them,” Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated in an announcement.
She stated the assaults “ranged from bomb threats to ‘swatting.’ In response, legislation enforcement and different authorities acted shortly to make sure the security of those that had been focused. President Trump and your entire Transition group are grateful for his or her swift motion.”
Swatting entails producing an emergency legislation enforcement response towards a goal sufferer underneath false pretenses.
An FBI assertion stated, “The FBI is conscious of quite a few bomb threats and swatting incidents focusing on incoming administration nominees and appointees, and we’re working with our legislation enforcement companions. We take all potential threats severely, and as all the time, encourage members of the general public to right away report something they think about suspicious to legislation enforcement.”
Amongst these focused was New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s decide to function the subsequent ambassador to the United Nations.
Her workplace stated that, Wednesday morning, she, her husband, and their 3-year-old son had been driving dwelling from Washington for Thanksgiving once they had been knowledgeable of a bomb menace to their residence in Saratoga County.
“New York State, County legislation enforcement, and U.S. Capitol Police responded instantly with the very best ranges of professionalism,” her workplace stated in an announcement. “We’re extremely appreciative of the extraordinary dedication of legislation enforcement officers who hold our communities protected 24/7.”
In Florida, in the meantime, the Okaloosa County sheriff’s workplace stated in an advisory posted on Fb that it “obtained notification of a bomb menace referencing former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a house within the Niceville space round 9 a.m. this morning.”
Whereas a member of the family resides on the tackle, they stated “former Congressman Gaetz is NOT a resident. “The mailbox nevertheless was cleared and no gadgets had been positioned. The speedy space was additionally searched with damaging outcomes.”
Related Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer and Eric Tucker contributed to this report from Washington.