FBI issues statement on threats against Trump's new cabinet nominees
Officials from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have stated that they are taking "potential threats" against several of President-elect Donald Trump's new cabinet nominees seriously.
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In a written statement issued by the FBI's National Press Office in Washington, D.C., it was noted that the agency is "aware" of a series of developments targeting Trump's new cabinet nominees.
The statement read, "The FBI is aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees, and we are working with our law enforcement partners to respond."
Emphasizing that "all potential threats are taken seriously," the statement urged the American public to "immediately report" anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.
Trump's spokesperson and the new White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed the threats against some cabinet nominees but did not provide details regarding the names of those threatened or how many individuals were affected.
Some of the new cabinet nominees stated in posts on various platforms that they and their family members had faced threats last night and this morning.
NAMES AMONG THOSE CLAIMING TO HAVE RECEIVED THREATS INCLUDE LEE ZELDIN AND ELISE STEFANIK
Lee Zeldin, Trump's nominee for administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced in a social media post today that a threat message targeting him and his family had been sent to his home.
Trump's nominee for U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Elise Stefanik, also announced on her X account that they had been informed of a bomb threat against her home.
The New York State Police issued a statement regarding the matter, reporting that their teams and "K9 units trained in explosive detection" had "swept" Stefanik's home and "found no explosive devices."
Additionally, a statement from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office in Florida noted that a bomb threat report was received in the morning regarding a mailbox allegedly belonging to former Congressman Matt Gaetz, and that no items were found as a result of the investigation.
Meanwhile, U.S. media outlets have reported that Trump's nominee for CIA director, John Ratcliffe, Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of Agriculture nominee Brooke Rollins have also been threatened.