Investigations Underway for Threats Aimed at Trump’s Cabinet Selections
Recent reports indicate that several prominent nominees for President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet have encountered serious threats, including bomb scares and swatting incidents. This alarming situation was confirmed by Trump’s transition team in a statement released on Wednesday, with the FBI now involved in the investigation.
“Last night and earlier today, various Cabinet nominees and appointees received violent and un-American threats against their lives and the safety of their families,” stated Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump transition team.
The nature of these threats ranged from bomb threats to swatting—an alarming trend where false emergencies are reported to provoke law enforcement responses against unsuspecting individuals. Leavitt noted that this tactic has unfortunately become more common in recent times.
Leavitt praised law enforcement’s quick response to protect those targeted and conveyed gratitude from Trump and his transition team for their diligence.
Among those who received threats are Elise Stefanik, a New York Representative nominated to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations; Matt Gaetz, who was initially slated to become attorney general; Oregon Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who is set to lead the Department of Labor; and Lee Zeldin, a former Congressman from New York, appointed to oversee the Environmental Protection Agency.
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Authorities are also looking into whether Susie Wiles, the incoming chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general slated to succeed Gaetz, were targeted, along with other officials from the new administration. This information was shared by an anonymous source connected to the ongoing investigations.
As of now, neither Wiles nor Bondi has issued a comment regarding the threats.
The FBI has acknowledged the multiple threats directed at incoming administration officials and is collaborating with local law enforcement on these cases.
White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma indicated that President Joe Biden has been briefed on 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 denounced any form of political violence.
Stefanik’s office reported that on Wednesday morning, while returning home from Washington with her husband and their young son for Thanksgiving, they were informed about a bomb threat aimed at their residence in Saratoga County.
In response, police conducted a thorough search of her home but found no explosives, as confirmed by the New York State Police.
Zeldin took to social media to report that he and his family had also received threats, stating, “Today, a pipe bomb threat directed at me and my family was accompanied by a pro-Palestinian message,” adding that fortunately, they were not at home at the time and were safe.
Meanwhile, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office in Florida received alerts about a bomb threat linked to Matt Gaetz’s mailbox at a residence in Niceville. Although a family member resides there, Gaetz himself does not live at that address, and no dangerous devices were found.
Gaetz, who withdrew his nomination for attorney general amid misconduct allegations involving minors, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. An investigation by the Justice Department concluded without any charges against him.
These threats come in the wake of a politically charged climate marked by unsettling incidents 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 attended by Trump in Florida.
Moreover, reports suggest that Trump was the target of a plot orchestrated by an Iranian national.
Recently, Manuel Tamayo-Torres was arrested for making online threats against Trump, claiming he would shoot the former president while brandishing what appeared to be an AR-15 style rifle in a video shared on social media. An attorney representing Tamayo-Torres has yet to comment on these allegations.
In recent years, public figures across the political spectrum have faced hoax bomb threats and false shooting reports. The FBI noted a significant increase in such incidents, especially targeting public officials during the holiday season.
Previous victims of similar threats include Georgia’s Lt. Governor Burt Jones, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.
Judges involved in high-profile cases against Trump have also reported receiving threats, including a false emergency call targeting Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith during the last Christmas season.
Earlier this year, a series of hoax bomb threats were made against schools and government buildings in Springfield, Ohio, following Trump’s unfounded accusations directed at the local Haitian community.
In 2022, a wave of bomb threats targeted historically Black colleges and universities, coinciding with Black History Month celebrations.
According to the U.S. Capitol Police, they closely coordinate with local and federal law enforcement anytime a member of Congress is involved in a swatting incident, though they have withheld additional details to prevent copycat actions.
House Speaker Mike Johnson condemned these threats as “dangerous and unhinged,” highlighting that there have been two assassination attempts against President Trump this year. He expressed concern for the safety of Cabinet nominees and their families, stating, “This is not who we are as Americans.”
—Colvin reported from New York. Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Colleen Long and Eric Tucker in Washington, Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this report.
