Two “potential explosive devices” sent to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in New York and the home of former President Obama in Washington, D.C. were discovered by the Secret Service.
The devices were “immediately identified during routine mail screening procedures” and “were appropriately handled as such,” the Secret Service said in a statement.
Statement from USSS:
“The U.S. Secret Service has intercepted two suspicious packages addressed to Secret Service protectees.
Late on October 23, 2018, the Secret Service recovered a single package addressed to Former First Lady Hillary Clinton in Westchester County, New York. Early this morning, October 24, 2018, a second package addressed to Former President Barack Obama was intercepted by Secret Service personnel in Washington, DC.
The packages were immediately identified during routine mail screening procedures as potential explosive devices and were appropriately handled as such. The protectees did not receive the packages nor were they at risk of receiving them.
The Secret Service has initiated a full scope criminal investigation that will leverage all available federal, state, and local resources to determine the source of the packages and identify those responsible.”
Separately, the Time Warner building in New York City was evacuated after reports of a suspicious package to CNN.
“We are working with authorities to determine the severity of the situation,” CNN president Jeff Zucker said in a memo to staff after his network’s anchors had to leave their studio to broadcast from the streets outside their building after an alarm went off on air.
A fourth suspicious package was addressed to former Attorney General Eric Holder. It was discovered after it was sent to Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), whose address was used as a return address. Schultz’s office in Sunrise, Fla., was evacuated when the package was discovered.
The threatening packages come weeks before the midterm elections and at a time of historic political polarization in the United States, with each major political party blaming the other for riling up supporters to the point of rage.
The packages sent to the Clintons, Obamas and CNN appeared to have similarities, according to authorities, who seemed to be investigating whether they were sent by the same person.
The Secret Service said one package intercepted late Tuesday was addressed to Hillary Clinton, who was President Trump’s Democratic opponent in the 2016 presidential election. The package addressed to Obama was found early Wednesday morning.
The statement said the agency “has initiated a full scope criminal investigation that will leverage all available federal, state, and local resources to determine the source of the packages and identify those responsible.”
The FBI said it activated its Joint Terrorism Task Force to assist with the investigation, but declined to comment further.
Multiple media reports said a homemade bomb was sent to the home of Bill and Hillary Clinton in Chappaqua, N.Y., and is similar to an explosive device found earlier this week at the home of billionaire philanthropist George Soros.
Soros, who lives in nearby Bedford, N.Y., has long been a target of right-wing figures for his funding of liberal activist groups.
Statement from White House:
“We condemn the attempted violent attacks recently made against President Obama, President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and other public figures. These terrorizing acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The United States Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies are investigating and will take all appropriate actions to protect anyone threatened by these cowards.”
Vice President Mike Pence also tweeted this:
We condemn the attempted attacks against fmr Pres Obama, the Clintons, @CNN & others. These cowardly actions are despicable & have no place in this Country. Grateful for swift response of @SecretService, @FBI & local law enforcement. Those responsible will be brought to justice.
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) October 24, 2018