Washington is on edge as the FBI investigates a string of attempted mail bombings addressed to top Democrats. Crude devices tucked inside padded envelopes in New York City and its leafy suburbs, the nation's capital, Florida and California reignited fears of political violence as a divided nation barrels toward Election Day. The FBI is examining "potentially destructive devices" sent to: > Former President Obama > Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton > Former Attorney General Eric Holder > Former CIA Director John Brennan, in care of CNN > Liberal donor and philanthropist George Soros > Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), a frequent Trump critic, was the intended recipient of two similar packages, one intercepted in Los Angeles and another at a Washington area mail facility, according to the FBI. None of the devices discovered this week exploded and no one was harmed. The six-inch-long package bombs, each with a battery and containing powder and broken glass, were constructed from PVC pipe and covered with black tape, a law enforcement official who viewed X-ray images told The Associated Press. The white powder in the package sent to CNN was tested and determined to be harmless. 
© Twitter
The FBI intercepted the packages for Obama, Clinton and Soros before they were received. The package for Holder was forwarded to a return address for the offices of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) in Florida. The package for Brennan that was sent to CNN resulted in the evacuation of the cable giant's headquarters in New York City, leading to the surreal scene of anchors and journalists reporting on the breaking news event from the street. "It is possible that additional packages were mailed to other locations." – statement from the FBI. The makeshift bombs are undergoing tests and inspection at the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Va., on Wednesday. The Associated Press: Trail of clues that can lead to the would-be bomber(s). Timeline: Bomb threats jolt nation. Speaking in the East Room, President Trump condemned the "acts or threats of political violence" and called for unity as his audience stood to applaud. "In these times, we have to unify. We have to come together and send one very clear, strong, unmistakable message that acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United States of America." – Trump The Washington Post: GOP leaders rush to condemn package bombs and threats to politicians, officials and the news media. The Hill: Bomb attacks expose festering divisions. Later, at a campaign rally in Wisconsin, the president's message of common purpose shifted to criticism of Democrats and the media. Trump said citizens should not "mob people in public spaces" and that the press has a responsibility to "set a civil tone and to stop the endless hostilities and constant negative and oftentimes false attacks and stories" (The Hill). Some rally goers chanted "lock her up" about Clinton. To Democrats and some in the media, Trump's words about unity were empty. They pointed to the president leading chants against his political opponents at raucous rallies and whipping up anger against the press, which he has described as "the enemy of the people." "President Trump's words ring hollow until he reverses his statements that condone acts of violence. Time and time again, the President has condoned physical violence and divided Americans with his words and his actions: expressing support for the Congressman who body-slammed a reporter, the neo-Nazis who killed a young woman in Charlottesville, his supporters at rallies who get violent with protesters, dictators around the world who murder their own citizens, and referring to the free press as the enemy of the people." - Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) in a joint statement. 
© Twitter
In a nation all-too familiar with terror attacks, mass shootings and angry demonstrations, the packages filled with wired devices and plastered with Forever stamps are being treated seriously. But the threats and assaults have not been confined to one side or the other since Trump became president. In June of 2017, a former volunteer for Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) presidential campaign opened fire on Republican lawmakers practicing for a congressional baseball game. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) was badly wounded and nearly died, but has since recovered. 
© Twitter
And earlier this month, packages of what was suspected to be the lethal poison ricin were mailed to Trump and officials at the Pentagon. Lawmakers have warned for some time that political anger around the country and on social media could lead to violence. Wednesday's events recalled past incidents of politically-fueled domestic terrorism, including the Unabomber, the Oklahoma City bombing and anthrax sent by mail to U.S. senators and members of the media after 9/11. (A partial list of acts of political violence in the U.S. can be found here http://bit.ly/2Jhaqrh.) CNBC: New York officials and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) describe packages addressed to Democrats as domestic terrorism. As Washington hoped for an arrest and a swift conclusion to the FBI investigation, officials from both sides called for leaders to lower the temperature on political discourse before it's too late. "It is a troubling time, isn't it? It's a time of deep divisions and we have to do everything we can to bring our country together. We also have to elect candidates who will try to do the same." – Hillary Clinton while campaigning for Democrats in Florida. 
© Twitter
© Twitter
Alexander Soros: The hate that is consuming us. Dan Balz: Bomb scares and the politics of the apocalypse. | 
No comments:
Post a Comment