As Thanksgiving approached, a troubling wave of threats swept across the political landscape, affecting prominent members from both the Republican and Democratic parties.
Those impacted included individuals nominated for key positions in President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming administration, as well as several Democratic legislators.
Threats to Trump Administration Nominees
One of the notable figures facing these threats was Scott Turner, whom Trump has chosen to lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Reports, supplemented by Turner’s own statement, revealed that he and his family received a bomb threat at their home.
Karoline Leavitt, a member of the Trump-Vance transition team, provided more details about the alarming types of threats these officials encountered, which ranged from bomb threats to a dangerous prank known as “swatting.” This latter tactic involves a malicious actor falsely alerting law enforcement to create a fabricated crisis, leading to aggressive police response at an unsuspecting individual’s home.
Turner took to social media to share the distress his family felt due to the bomb threat, mentioning that other colleagues were similarly targeted.
He expressed appreciation for the efficient and professional actions of local police, which helped ensure their safety.
Despite the intimidation, he remains resolute in his commitment to serve in the administration and implement vital changes within HUD.
Broad Spectrum of Threats
Other nominees from Trump’s administration also faced threats.
These included Representative Elise Stefanik of New York, chosen as the ambassador to the United Nations; Pete Hegseth, who was selected for the defense secretary role; Lee Zeldin, nominated to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Lori Chavez-Deremer, picked for labor secretary; and Brooke Rollins, selected for agriculture secretary.
Democratic lawmakers were not exempt from this wave of intimidation during the Thanksgiving period.
Senator Chris Murphy and Representatives Jim Himes, Jahana Hayes, Joe Courtney, John Larson, and Rosa DeLauro—all from Connecticut—were among those targeted.
Additionally, threats were directed at Representative Seth Magazine and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island, as well as Representative Seth Moulton from Massachusetts.
Political Condemnation and Response
These threats sparked widespread condemnation from leaders across the aisle, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
President Joe Biden announced that his administration is collaborating with the FBI to investigate these menacing threats, and he expressed his intention to engage in further discussions with Trump before the upcoming inauguration.
Source: Housingwire