President-elect Donald Trump’s planned Cabinet nominees and administration appointees were targeted with bomb threats and “swatting” attacks, according to a spokesperson for the Trump transition team. Swatting involves making hoax calls to police to draw SWAT teams to a location, potentially leading to dangerous outcomes. However, three senior law enforcement officials said these threats were not credible, and no physical threats were found. The FBI is aware of the incidents and is working with law enforcement partners to investigate.
Some of the targeted individuals included Rep. Elise Stefanik, former Rep. Lee Zeldin, Brooke Rollins, and former Rep. Matt Gaetz. Stefanik, Zeldin, and Rollins confirmed they had received threats but were unharmed. Gaetz, who withdrew his nomination for U.S. attorney general, also confirmed being a target of a bomb threat. Law enforcement responded promptly to ensure the safety of those targeted.
Despite the threats, the Trump transition team stated that they would not be deterred and would continue their work. Similar tactics have been used in the past against individuals viewed as adversaries of Trump, such as judges and prosecutors involved in legal cases against him. The threats against Trump’s nominees are being taken seriously, and law enforcement authorities are working to ensure the safety of all individuals involved.
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