Democrats Threatened by Bombs
The last week has seen a shocking amount of violence across the country, including bomb threats against several prominent Democrats and other opponents of Donald Trump. While no one was hurt by the bombs, they still sent an unsettling message about the political divisiveness of the United States just a week before the upcoming November 6 midterm elections. Here, btw takes a closer look at the story.
Who Was Targeted?
Among those targeted were former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former secretary of state and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton; and former President Barack Obama and his family. Neither one received the packages because their mail is screened. CNN’s New York headquarters also received a package addressed to former CIA director John Brennan, who regularly appears on the network and openly criticizes Trump. The package contained a live explosive and an envelope with white powder, which is currently being tested, and was intercepted before Mr. Brennan received it.
A package 
was also found at the New York home of George Soros, a wealthy Democratic campaign contributor. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the former chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), received a suspicious envelope. Moreover, all of the other packages listed Ms. Schultz as their return address. An explosive device mailed to Eric Holder, President Obama’s attorney general, was sent to the wrong address. Two additional packages were sent to California Representative Maxine Waters, an outspoken Democrat whom Trump has openly criticized. And former Vice President Joe Biden and actor Robert DeNiro received bombs as well.
What Do We Know So Far?
The pipe bombs were made from six-inch pieces of PVC pipe. They contained powder and glass. The bombs were sent through the U.S. mail in manila envelopes covered with stamps, some also with the image of the American flag. Luckily, none of them detonated, and no one was hurt.
The suspect charged with the attempted bombings is Cesar Sayoc, a 56-year-old Florida man. Sayoc lived in a van covered with pro-Trump bumper stickers. He kept a list of elected officials and others whom he felt were opponents of the president. Authorities say they have DNA and fingerprint evidence linking Sayoc to the bombs. If he’s convicted, he will face more than fifty years in prison.
What Was the Public Response?
At the moment, people are still on edge, as authorities worry that there could be more dangerous packages out there that haven’t been delivered yet. Those who appear on Sayoc’s list remain on high alert, including an editor at the New York Times.
Though Trump has a history of encouraging violence against his protestors, he immediately spoke out against the attempted bombings, saying that authorities would get to the bottom of the crime. At the same time, however, some members of the more conservative media, such as Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh, have suggested that Democrats sent the bombs themselves, in order to gain sympathy before this week’s midterm election.