Numerous bomb threats made against Trump cabinet nominees – FBI

Several nominees for Donald Trump’s cabinet and White House team have been targeted by bomb threats and swatting incidents, according to law enforcement and the Trump transition team.

The FBI confirmed its investigation into “numerous bomb threats” alongside “swatting incidents,” where hoax calls lead to armed police responses at the victim’s homes.

The wave of threats began on Tuesday night and extended into Wednesday morning. Elise Stefanik, chosen by Trump to be the US ambassador to the United Nations, was one of the first to report being targeted. Her office disclosed that she received a bomb threat concerning her family home while traveling with her husband and their three-year-old son from Washington to New York for Thanksgiving.

Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump’s transition team, described the threats as “violent and un-American acts” but assured the public that swift action was taken by law enforcement to ensure the safety of those targeted. “With President Trump as an example, acts of intimidation and violence will not go unchallenged,” she stated. However, neither Leavitt nor the FBI provided the identities of all individuals targeted.

New York police later confirmed that Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, was among those whose homes were threatened. Separately, Lee Zeldin, nominated to head the Environmental Protection Agency, reported that a “pipe bomb threat” accompanied by a “pro-Palestinian themed message” was sent to his home. Zeldin and his family were not present at the time of the threat.

Brooke Rollins, Trump’s selection to head the Department of Agriculture, also shared that her family received threats on Wednesday morning in Fort Worth, Texas. In a post on social media, she expressed gratitude to the local law enforcement for their prompt and professional response.

Florida Republican Matt Gaetz, who recently withdrew from consideration as US attorney general, confirmed that his Niceville home was targeted by a bomb threat. Police found no devices after searching the area. Fox News reported that John Ratcliffe, Trump’s nominee for CIA director, and Pete Hegseth, the nominee for defense secretary, were also among those targeted.

While Trump himself was not among the recipients of these threats, the incidents underscore the growing risks faced by high-profile political figures in an increasingly polarized climate. Last year, swatting tactics were employed against politicians across the political spectrum, with incidents peaking around Christmas.

The recent threats follow a pattern of similar hoaxes aimed at judges and prosecutors involved in Trump’s criminal cases, raising concerns about the escalation of hostility in the political sphere. Authorities have not made any arrests related to the recent incidents, but investigations are currently underway.