Investigations Underway into Threats Aimed at Trump’s Cabinet Selections

Recent reports indicate that several prominent nominees for President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet have been subjected to serious threats, including bomb scares and swatting incidents. This alarming news was shared by Trump’s transition team on Wednesday, and the FBI has confirmed that it is actively investigating these incidents.

Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump transition team, stated, “Last night and earlier today, several Cabinet nominees and appointees to President Trump’s administration received violent and un-American threats against their lives and the safety of their families.”

The nature of the threats ranged from bomb alerts to swatting—a dangerous tactic where false emergencies are reported to law enforcement, prompting a response against an unsuspecting victim. Leavitt noted that this method has unfortunately become more prevalent in recent years.

Leavitt expressed gratitude for the swift actions taken by law enforcement to ensure the safety of those targeted, reflecting the appreciation from Trump and his transition team for their efforts.

Among those who received threats are New York Representative Elise Stefanik, who has been nominated as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations; Matt Gaetz, who was initially selected to be attorney general; Oregon Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer, expected to oversee the Department of Labor; and former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin, appointed to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.

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Additionally, law enforcement is probing whether Susie Wiles, Trump’s imminent chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general chosen as Gaetz’s successor, were also among those targeted, along with other officials from the incoming administration. This information was provided by an anonymous source involved in the ongoing investigations.

As of now, neither Wiles nor Bondi has publicly commented on the threats they received.

The FBI has acknowledged the numerous threats directed at officials in the incoming administration and is collaborating with local law enforcement agencies to address these cases.

White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma has indicated that President Joe Biden is informed about these threats and that the White House is maintaining communication with both federal law enforcement and Trump’s transition team.

According to Sharma, Biden is “closely monitoring the situation” and has condemned any form of political violence.

Stefanik’s office disclosed that on Wednesday morning, while she was driving home from Washington with her husband and their young son for Thanksgiving, they were informed of a bomb threat directed at their residence in Saratoga County.

In response, local police conducted a thorough search of her home but found no explosives, as confirmed by the New York State Police.

Zeldin also took to social media to share that he and his family had received threats. “Today, a pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family was received alongside a pro-Palestinian message,” he mentioned, adding that fortunately, they were not home at the time and were safe.

In Florida, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office reported receiving alerts regarding a bomb threat linked to Matt Gaetz’s mailbox at a residence in Niceville. Although a family member lives at that address, Gaetz himself does not reside there, and no threatening devices were found.

Gaetz, who was initially selected for the role of attorney general but later withdrew amid allegations of misconduct involving minors, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. An investigation by the Justice Department into these allegations concluded without any charges against him.

These threats emerge against a backdrop of a politically charged atmosphere marked by disturbing acts of violence. Just a few months prior, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, injuring the then-candidate and resulting in the death of a supporter. Additionally, the Secret Service thwarted an assassination attempt during a golf outing involving Trump in Florida.

Moreover, Trump was reportedly the target of an assassination plot orchestrated by an Iranian national.

Recently, a man was arrested for issuing online threats against Trump. Manuel Tamayo-Torres allegedly threatened to shoot the former president while wielding what appeared to be an AR-15 style rifle in a video shared online. An attorney representing Tamayo-Torres has yet to comment on the situation.

In recent years, public figures across the political spectrum have faced similar hoax bomb threats and false shooting reports. Last year, the FBI noted a significant increase in such incidents, particularly targeting public officials during the holiday season.

Notable figures previously targeted include Georgia’s Lt. Governor Burt Jones, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

Judges involved in critical cases against Trump have also reported receiving similar threats, including a fake emergency call aimed at Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith during the last Christmas season.

Earlier this year, a series of hoax bomb threats were directed at schools and government buildings in Springfield, Ohio, following Trump’s unfounded accusations against the local Haitian community.

In 2022, a wave of bomb threats targeted historically Black colleges and universities, coinciding primarily with Black History Month celebrations.

The U.S. Capitol Police stated that they work closely with local and federal law enforcement whenever a member of Congress is involved in a swatting incident but refrained from providing further details to avoid potential copycat actions.

House Speaker Mike Johnson condemned these threats as “dangerous and unhinged.” He pointed out that there have been two assassination attempts against President Trump this year and expressed concern for the safety of his Cabinet nominees and their families, asserting, “This is not who we are as Americans.”

—Colvin reported from New York, with contributions from Richer in Washington. Associated Press writers Colleen Long and Eric Tucker in Washington, Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, also contributed to this report.