At least five Democratic members of Congress who were targeted with bomb threats and “swatting” efforts on Thanksgiving got messages signed with “MAGA,” according to House Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ office.
The threats were cleared by US Capitol authorities, as well as state and local authorities, and came after a string of similar events threatening some of Donald Trump’s cabinet choices.
Bomb threats were received on Thursday at the houses of Senator Chris Murphy, Reps. Jahana Hayes, Joe Courtney, John Larson, and Jim Himes, the top-ranking Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee, according to their respective offices. Everyone represents the state of Connecticut.
“These incidents ranged from detailed threats of a pipe bomb placed in mailboxes to swatting, all signed with ‘MAGA’ at the conclusion of the message,” a representative for Jeffries said in a statement on Friday, referring to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” acronym.
“America is a democracy,” the statement continued. “Threats of violence against elected leaders are abhorrent, unethical, and have no place in a civilized society. All perpetrators of political violence against any party must face the full extent of the law.”
On Friday, Democratic Representative Seth Magaziner of Rhode Island reported a bomb threat at his house. According to his office’s statement, no proof of a device was uncovered.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s office also stated that he “received a similar threat to the ones” made against other Democratic officials on Thanksgiving.
A representative for Senator Murphy’s office informed The Independent that the threat against his home “appears to be part of a coordinated effort involving multiple members of Congress and public figures.”
Police “quickly responded and determined there was no real threat,” according to Murphy’s office. Law officials did not find any bombs or devices at the houses of the other congressmen.
“House Democrats will not be deterred or intimidated from serving the people by violent threats,” the statement from Jeffries’ office reads. “We have been in close communication with the Sergeant at Arms office and it is imperative that Congress provide maximum protection for all Members and their families moving forward.”
A Capitol Police representative declined to provide The Independent with any information about the occurrences “to protect ongoing investigations and minimize the risk of copy-cats.”
On Wednesday, many Trump administration nominees reported getting similar threats, including Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, Elise Stefanik, and Lee Zeldin.
“President Trump and the Transition are focused on doing the work of uniting our nation by ensuring a safe and prosperous future,” said Karoline Leavitt, campaign spokesperson and incoming White House press secretary. “With President Trump as our example, dangerous acts of intimidation and violence will not deter us.”
The FBI confirmed the instances concerning Trump’s nominations. “We take all potential threats seriously and, as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement,” according to a statement from the agency.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson described Trump’s incoming team’s threats as “dangerous and unhinged” and urged that President Joe Biden and Democratic leadership condemn the occurrences.
When asked about his reaction to the threats, Biden told reporters in Nantucket on Friday, “We’re working that hard, the FBI.”