Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-Rhode Island, said Friday that similar false police reports have accused at least five members of Connecticut's Democratic Congressional Caucus and at least 10 of President-elect Donald Trump's leading candidates. He revealed that he was slapped with a fake bomb threat after receiving a similar fake police report targeting him.
“Recently, I was notified of a bomb threat at my home aimed at me and my family. We were safe and there was no evidence of a bomb on the property,” Magazine said. tweeted.
“We are deeply grateful to the Providence Police Department for their effective response.”
The threats targeting the Connecticut Democrat were “all signed with 'MAGA,'” an acronym for President Trump's mantra “Make America Great Again,” the New York Democratic House Minority Leader said. Commissioner Hakeem Jeffries added in a separate statement Friday.
On Wednesday, Trump's team was targeted, including incoming White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, attorney general nominee Pam Bondi and defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth.
Former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), who was nominated by President Trump to head the Environmental Protection Agency, said the threats aimed at the family included “messages with pro-Palestinian themes.”
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), one of the Thanksgiving targets, said the harassment “appears to be part of a coordinated effort involving multiple members of Congress and public figures.”
The FBI is investigating a spate of fake calls that can occur during heavily armed police responses, but so far no targets have been injured.
Asked about the widespread threat after storming out of a Nantucket bookstore after a family Thanksgiving celebration, President Biden told reporters that federal officials were already working on the case.
“We're working hard, FBI,” Biden, 82, said Friday.
The true motive of the person behind the threat remains unknown.
Similar waves of threats were made in 2016 and 2017 against Jewish community centers and other targets, creating the impression that anti-Semitism was on the rise, but ultimately It was determined that the crime was committed by a human teenager, Michael Kadar. I did it out of boredom. ”
The culprit tried to cover his tracks by hiding his IP address and using voice-altering techniques, but was eventually tracked down by the FBI.
