EGN NEWS DESK
At least 5 Democratic members of Congress from Connecticut had been focused by bomb threats on their houses Thursday, the lawmakers or their workplaces mentioned.
Sen. Chris Murphy and Reps. Jim Himes, Joe Courtney, John Larson and Jahana Hayes all reported being the topic of such threats. Police who responded mentioned they discovered no proof of explosives on the lawmakers’ properties.
There was no rapid phrase whether or not Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the fifth Democratic House member from the state, and Connecticut’s different Democratic senator acquired threats.
The bomb threats towards Democrats occurred a day after numerous President-elect Donald Trump’s most distinguished Cabinet picks and appointees reported that they’d acquired such threats, in addition to “swatting assaults,” through which perpetrators provoke an emergency legislation enforcement response towards a sufferer below false pretenses.
Murphy’s workplace mentioned his Hartford residence was the goal of a bomb menace, “which seems to be a part of a coordinated effort involving a number of members of Congress and public figures.” Hartford Police and U.S. Capitol Police decided there was no menace.
Hayes mentioned the Wolcott Police Department knowledgeable her Thursday morning that it had acquired “a threatening e-mail stating a pipe bomb had been positioned within the mailbox at my residence.” State police, U.S. Capitol Police, and the House sergeant at arms had been notified, Wolcott and state police responded “and no bomb or explosive supplies had been found.”
Courtney’s Vernon residence acquired a bomb menace whereas his spouse and youngsters had been there, his workplace mentioned.
Himes mentioned he was informed of the menace towards his residence throughout a Thanksgiving celebration together with his household. The U.S. Capitol Police, and Greenwich and Stamford police departments responded.
Hines prolonged his household’s “utmost gratitude to our native legislation enforcement officers for his or her rapid motion to make sure our security.” Echoing different lawmakers who had been threatened, he added: “There isn’t any place for political violence on this nation, and I hope that we might all proceed by way of the vacation season with peace and civility.”
Larson additionally mentioned Thursday that East Hartford Police responded to a bomb menace towards his residence.
The FBI declined to offer particulars on the newest episodes besides to say it’s investigating them in partnership with different companies.
s working with our state and native companions on these issues. No additional particulars of the investigation will likely be launched right now.”
The threats comply with an election season marked by violence. In July, a gunman opened fireplace at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing him within the ear and killing one in every of his supporters. The Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination try at Trump’s West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course when an agent noticed the barrel of a gun poking by way of a fringe fence whereas Trump was {golfing}.
Among those that acquired threats Wednesday had been New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s choose to function the subsequent ambassador to the United Nations; Matt Gaetz, Trump’s preliminary choose to function lawyer common; Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, whom Trump selected to steer the Department of Labor, and former New York congressman Lee Zeldin, who has been tapped to steer the Environmental Protection Agency.
—Hussein reported from West Palm Beach, Fla. Associated Press author Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.
