House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting Democratic lawmakers on Thanksgiving were all “signed with MAGA,” referencing Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.
Swatting is the practice of making a false report to emergency services in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of armed police officers to a particular address.
Nearly all of the House and Senate Democrats from Connecticut were the targets of bomb threats at their homes on Thursday, including Sen. Chris Murphy and Reps. Jim Himes, Joe Courtney, John Larson, Jahana Hayes and Rosa DeLauro, according to Politico.
On Friday, Jeffries confirmed that police found no evidence of any explosive devices at the lawmakers’ homes and condemned the attack.
“Yesterday, during Thanksgiving celebrations, several Democratic Members of Congress, their families and law enforcement officials were targeted with violent threats,” Jeffries said in a statement. “These incidents ranged from detailed threats of a pipe bomb placed in mailboxes to swatting, all signed with ‘MAGA’ at the conclusion of the message.”
“Thanks to the swift reaction from law enforcement, no devices were found and Members of Congress and their families were kept safe on the holiday,” he said.
Democratic lawmakers were targeted one day after members of Trump’s cabinet were targeted in a similar fashion.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called the threats to Trump’s nominees “dangerous and unhinged” and demanded President Joe Biden and Democratic leadership condemn the incidents.
There has been no comment from Johnson so far condemning the attack on Democratic lawmakers and demanding that Trump do the same.
“America is a democracy,” Jeffries said in Friday’s statement. “Threats of violence against elected officials are unacceptable, unconscionable and have no place in a civilized society. All perpetrators of political violence directed at any party must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
“House Democrats will not be deterred or intimidated from serving the people by violent threats,’ he added. “We have been in close communication with the Sergeant at Arms office and it is imperative that Congress provide maximum protection for all Members and their families moving forward.”
