At least six Democratic members of Congress were targeted with bomb threats over the Thanksgiving holiday, prompting a swift response from law enforcement. Four Democratic representatives from Connecticut, including Reps. Joe Courtney, Jim Himes, John Larson, and Jahana Hayes, revealed on Thursday that they had received bomb threats while spending time with their families. Senator Chris Murphy’s office also confirmed that his Hartford home was among those targeted.
Rep. Seth Magaziner from Rhode Island also reported receiving a bomb threat at his residence. Law enforcement agencies were immediately notified, and in each case, no bomb was found, with all of the affected representatives and their families being reported as safe. Murphy’s office stated that the threat to his home appeared to be part of a broader, coordinated effort involving multiple members of Congress and other public figures.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the threats, calling them “unacceptable, unconscionable, and have no place in a civilized society.” The threats ranged from detailed warnings of pipe bombs placed in mailboxes to “swatting” incidents, all signed with “MAGA” at the conclusion of the messages. This has sparked concerns regarding a rise in violent threats against public figures.
Law enforcement is now investigating whether the threats made against the Democratic lawmakers are connected to similar threats made earlier in the week to several officials from the Trump administration. However, initial reports suggest there is no clear ideological link between the two sets of threats.
The FBI and U.S. Capitol Police are working together on the investigations. The FBI stated that it is aware of the bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees, and emphasized that they take all such threats seriously. Law enforcement officials have previously noted that while most of these threats are determined to be hoaxes, they cannot be ignored due to the potential risk.
Swatting, a dangerous and criminal hoax that involves falsely reporting a crime to provoke a police response, has become an increasingly common tactic in the current polarized political climate. High-profile individuals, especially those in controversial positions, have been frequent targets of such threats in recent years.
