Several of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees and administration appointees have become targets of bomb threats and swatting incidents, according to the Trump transition team.
“Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and administration appointees were targeted in violent, un-American threats to their lives and those who live with them,” Trump transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
Leavitt noted that the attacks ranged from bomb threats to swatting, though she did not provide specific details about who was targeted.
Swatting involves falsely reporting an emergency to law enforcement with the aim of triggering a massive, heavily armed response to an innocent person’s location.
Law enforcement and authorities acted swiftly to ensure the safety of those affected, the statement added. The targeted individuals reportedly include Susie Wiles, Trump’s incoming White House chief of staff; Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general nominated for U.S. attorney general; Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, selected as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations; Howard Lutnick, chosen for secretary of commerce; and Brooke Rollins, nominated for secretary of agriculture, as reported by CBS News.
A White House spokesperson confirmed that Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden has been briefed on the threats. “The president and the administration unequivocally condemn threats of political violence,” the spokesperson said.
The alarming incidents come months after Trump survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July. In a separate event in September, a man was charged with attempted assassination after allegedly positioning himself with a rifle outside one of Trump’s Florida golf courses.
The escalation of threats against political figures raises concerns about the state of political discourse and safety in the United States. As the nation watches these developments, the need for unity and respectful dialogue becomes ever more pressing.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
