Spokespeople for President-elect Donald Trump and US authorities have detected a surge in bomb threats and false alarms against some of those chosen by the Republican to be part of his team. “The FBI is aware of numerous bomb threats and incidents of swatting [falsas alarmas para desencadenar una respuesta de emergencia]directed to the nominees and appointees of the incoming Administration, and we are working with our law enforcement partners,” the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said in a statement this Wednesday.
“We take all potential threats seriously and, as always, encourage citizens to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement,” the FBI added, without specifying who the targets of those threats were. .
The threats come after an electoral campaign marked in part by violence. In July, a shooter opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, hitting the then-candidate in the ear with a bullet and killing one of his supporters. The US Secret Service later thwarted an assassination attempt at Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, when an agent saw the barrel of a gun sticking out of a perimeter fence while Trump was golfing.
After the elections, however, there have been no episodes of violence linked to the electoral result or the counting. The Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris, acknowledged her defeat and both she and the President of the United States, Joe Biden, congratulated Trump without reservation. Biden is trying to carry out a model transition of power, although at the same time he is trying to take advantage of the last months of his mandate to consolidate some of his policies.
Trump’s transition team also reported this Wednesday that these incidents have occurred. “Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and members of his Administration were the targets of violent and anti-American threats against their lives and those who live with them,” Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the president-elect, said in a statement. . “In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted,” he added, thanking the security services.
bomb threat
Among the targets of these threats has been New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, chosen by Trump to be the next United States ambassador to the United Nations. In a statement issued Wednesday, the congresswoman’s office said Stefanik, her husband and son were driving home from Washington to Saratoga County for Thanksgiving “when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence.” ” in said county.
“New York State, county law enforcement and the United States Capitol Police immediately responded with the highest levels of professionalism. “We are incredibly grateful for the extraordinary dedication of law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” the statement said. “We want to extend to the upstate New York community our best wishes for a happy and safe Thanksgiving. “We are especially grateful to our law enforcement officers and the families of military members who are on duty during the holidays,” he adds.
In Florida, meanwhile, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said in a notice posted on Facebook that it “received notification of a bomb threat referring to the alleged mailbox of former Congressman Matt Gaetz at a home in the Niceville area around 9 this morning,” reports the Associated Press. Although a family member resides at the address, they said “former Congressman Gaetz is not a resident.” The mailbox, however, was searched and no devices were located. The immediate area was also searched with negative results. Gaetz was Trump’s initial choice to serve as attorney general, but he withdrew from consideration amid allegations that he paid women for sex and slept with underage women.
