October 2018 United States mail bombing attempts

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Cesar Sayoc)

October 2018 United States mail bombing attempts
One of the envelopes that contained explosives[1]
LocationUnited States
DateOctober 22, 2018 (2018-10-22) – November 1, 2018 (2018-11-01)
TargetCNN and thirteen Democratic Party members and prominent critics of U.S. President Donald Trump[2][3]
Attack type
Attempted mail bombings, domestic terrorism
WeaponsPipe bombs
Deaths0
Injured0
PerpetratorCesar Sayoc Jr.[4]
MotivePro-Trump, far-right extremism (see also § Motives)

From October 22 to November 1, 2018, 16 packages found to contain pipe bombs were mailed via the U.S. Postal Service to several Democratic Party politicians and other prominent critics of U.S. President Donald Trump. Targets included former U.S. President Barack Obama, former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Other people who were sent packages included three Democratic members of Congress: Representative Maxine Waters, Senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris; former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, two former intelligence chiefs: ex-CIA Director John Brennan and ex-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper; two billionaire Democratic donors and activists: George Soros and Tom Steyer; and actor Robert De Niro.[2][5][6][7] One package was addressed only to CNN and sent to its world headquarters.[8][9][10]

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies coordinated their investigations of the attempted bombings.[2] All sixteen confirmed bombs sent were improvised explosive devices,[11] though none had a trigger mechanism.[12] None of the devices exploded outside a controlled setting.[13]

Cesar Altieri Sayoc, Jr. was arrested in Florida on October 26, held without bail, and charged with five federal crimes the following week.[14][15] The FBI investigated the case as domestic terrorism.[16] On March 21, 2019, Sayoc pleaded guilty to 65 felony counts, including using weapons of mass destruction in an attempted domestic terrorist attack. He was sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison on August 5, 2019, and will be eligible for release as early as November 10, 2035.[17]

Mailings[edit]

Monday, October 22[edit]

The first suspicious package containing such a device was found in the mailbox at the home of Democratic donor George Soros in Katonah, New York.[18] Soros, who is regularly the subject of conspiracy theories and threats by right-wing extremists, was absent. The employee who found the device carried it to a wooded area, where bomb squad officers safely detonated it.[19]

Tuesday, October 23[edit]

A package containing a device, addressed to former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (misspelled as "Hilary"), was intercepted by the Secret Service during a mail screening in Chappaqua, New York.[20][21] A former U.S. Senator from New York and the First Lady of former President Bill Clinton, she was President Donald Trump's main opponent in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Wednesday, October 24[edit]

A device addressed to former President Barack Obama was intercepted by the Secret Service during a mail screening in Washington, D.C.[20]

Additionally, a package containing an explosive and suspicious powder was found in CNN's mail room in the Time Warner Center in New York City, addressed to former CIA Director John Brennan (misspelled as "Brenan").[22] CNN reported that law enforcement said the package was delivered by courier.[23] Brennan has served as a senior national security and intelligence analyst for NBC News and MSNBC since February 2018, but has also appeared on CNN.[24] The bomb alarm occurred during CNN Newsroom with Poppy Harlow and Jim Sciutto.[25] Along with their colleagues Kate Bolduan and Athena Jones, reporters Harlow and Sciutto left the building, but continued to report via Skype over a cellphone line.[26][27][28]

A suspicious package addressed to U.S. Representative Maxine Waters was intercepted by United States Capitol Police.[23][29] Another suspicious package addressed to Waters resulted in the evacuation of a U.S. Postal Service facility in Los Angeles.[30]

A package addressed to former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, with a bad address, was returned to the purported sender, the office of former Democratic National Committee Chairwoman and current U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz in Sunrise, Florida.[23][31]

Thursday, October 25[edit]

In the early morning hours, a package was found in Tribeca, New York City, addressed to actor, producer and director Robert De Niro, via his company Tribeca Productions. De Niro has publicly expressed criticism of Trump.[32]

Authorities also found a package in New Castle, Delaware, addressed to then former Vice President Joe Biden with his full name, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. It was returned to the post office due to insufficient postage, and examined because of the other packages.[33] A second package intended for Biden, but addressed incorrectly, was found at a facility in Wilmington, Delaware.[33] The Miami-Dade Police Department and federal authorities believe that several of the packages would have passed through a mail processing and distribution center in Opa-locka, Florida; they searched the facility for evidence with a bomb squad and K-9 unit.[34]

Friday, October 26[edit]

Authorities found four packages similar to previous packages. One addressed to former National Intelligence Director James Clapper (which, like the one sent to John Brennan, had CNN's Time Warner Center address) was found in a New York City postal facility, while another, addressed to U.S. Senator Cory Booker, was found in a Florida postal facility.[35]

Authorities also found a bomb addressed to then-U.S. Senator Kamala Harris in Sacramento, California. A device addressed to billionaire Tom Steyer, a Democratic donor who frequently appeared in ads encouraging Congress to impeach President Trump on CNN, was intercepted by a postal worker at a sorting facility in Burlingame, California.[36]

Monday, October 29[edit]

CNN President Jeff Zucker issued an alert to employees that a suspicious package sent to the CNN Center was found at a post office in Atlanta, Georgia.[9] Jim Sciutto posted a picture of the package on Twitter and it was similar to the others.[10] Unlike the other two sent to CNN, it was not addressed to a specific person.[8] President Trump has frequently criticized CNN and its employees in derogatory terms.[37][38]

Thursday, November 1[edit]

A second package addressed to Steyer was intercepted at the same postal facility in Burlingame, California.[39]

Summary[edit]

Summary of incidents[6]
Date Intended target Title/description (most recently/at the time) Location discovered
October 22
George Soros
Founder of the Open Society Foundations Katonah, New York (Soros residence)
October 23
Hillary Clinton
Former U.S. Secretary of State Chappaqua, New York (intercepted by Secret Service)
October 24
Barack Obama
Former U.S. President Washington, D.C. (intercepted by Secret Service)

Eric Holder
Former U.S. Attorney General Sunrise, Florida (office of Debbie Wasserman Schultz)

Maxine Waters
U.S. Representative (D-CA) Washington, D.C. (Capitol Hill post office)
Los Angeles (postal facility)

John Brennan
Former CIA Director New York City (Time Warner Center)
October 25
Joe Biden
Former U.S. Vice President New Castle, Delaware (post office)
Wilmington, Delaware (post office)

Robert De Niro
Actor New York City (office of TriBeCa Productions)
October 26
James Clapper
Former Director of National Intelligence New York City (post office)

Cory Booker
U.S. Senator (D-NJ) Opa-locka, Florida (postal facility)

Kamala Harris
U.S. Senator (D-CA) Sacramento, California (postal facility)
October 26 and November 1
Tom Steyer
Billionaire investor Burlingame, California (postal facility)
October 29
CNN Center
CNN's world headquarters Atlanta, Georgia (post office)

Devices and envelopes[edit]

U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz's name and Florida office address were on the return label of all of the packages.

According to The New York Times, the device sent to Soros's house was constructed from a length of PVC pipe about six inches (150 mm) long, filled with explosive powder. It was proactively detonated by bomb squad technicians.[40] Authorities reported that the devices recovered on October 24 were packed with shards of glass.[41] A law enforcement official told reporters that the devices sent to Clinton and Obama were similar in design to the one that was sent to Soros.[42] According to the Associated Press, a law enforcement official said tests have determined that white powder found inside an envelope delivered to CNN, along with a pipe bomb, was not viable.[43][44] The bombs contained pyrotechnic powder but lacked a triggering mechanism; the FBI described them as "potentially destructive devices."[45] Law enforcement officials told the Associated Press that the devices contained batteries and timers but were not rigged to explode when they were opened. The officials said they're still trying to determine if the devices were shoddily constructed or simply intended as threats to sow fear.[46]

At a press conference following the arrest of the suspect, FBI Director Christopher Wray described the bombs as improvised explosive devices, stating that they were "not hoax devices".[47]

All of the devices were sent in yellow manila envelopes lined with bubble wrap. They each had a printed address label and six Forever stamps,[40] as well as the return address of U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz's office in Sunrise, Florida. All of the return addresses contained the same spelling errors: Schultz was misspelled "Shultz" and Florida was misspelled "Florids".[31] Each set of labels was typed in all capital letters. The packages were furnished with a meme parody of the ISIL flag with the inscription "Git 'Er[sic] Done",[48] a catchphrase of standup comedian Larry the Cable Guy.[49] Photographs of the packages meant for CNN were posted to Twitter by staffers Jim Sciutto and Jim Acosta.[22][50][10]

Investigation[edit]

The FBI led the investigation, with assistance from the United States Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the United States Postal Inspection Service, the New York City, Los Angeles, Miami-Dade, and Atlanta police departments; and other law enforcement agencies.[31][34][51] Images of envelopes taken by the U.S. Postal Service's Mail Isolation Control and Tracking system have been examined as part of the investigation.[2]

Several of the mail bomb packages were sent to the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, for inspection.[2] A fingerprint found on one of the packages and DNA on two other packages pointed to Sayoc as the suspect.[52] He was identified through video surveillance near a South Florida post office, and located by tracking his cell phone.[53] On October 26, Sayoc was arrested in the parking lot of an AutoZone store in Plantation, Florida,[54][55] in connection with the series of explosive devices sent to several individuals.[56][57][58]

Perpetrator[edit]

Cesar Sayoc Jr.
A mugshot of Cesar Altieri Sayoc Jr. in 2015
Born
Cesar Altieri Sayoc Jr.

(1962-03-17) March 17, 1962 (age 62)
NationalityAmerican
EducationBrevard College
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Criminal statusIncarcerated at Federal Correctional Institution, Butner Medium II, earliest possible release date November 10, 2035
Criminal charge
65, including:
  • Interstate transportation of an explosive
  • Illegal mailing of explosives
  • Threats against former presidents and certain other persons
  • Threatening interstate communications
  • Assaulting federal officers
Penalty20 years in prison

Cesar Altieri Sayoc Jr. (born March 17, 1962)[59] was born in Brooklyn and moved to Florida as a child.[60] His father is a Filipino immigrant and his mother was born in the Bronx, of Italian descent.[61][62] His father abandoned him and his mother when Sayoc was a child.[63]

Sayoc graduated from North Miami Beach High School in 1980.[60] He attended Brevard College for three semesters starting that year and transferred to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1983 where he played on the school's soccer team but did not declare a major.[64]

His last known address was that of his mother's house in Aventura, Florida, but Sayoc was living in his van at the time of his arrest.[58][65]

Sayoc has a long criminal history.[66] In 2002, he pleaded guilty to calling in a bomb threat to Florida Power & Light.[67][68] He was also arrested on multiple occasions for charges that included theft, battery, and drug possession, with convictions in 1991, 2013, and 2014.[69]

State records list Sayoc as connected to two, now-inactive Hallandale Beach businesses: Proud Native American One Low Price Drycleaning in 2001 and, more recently, at Native American Catering & Vending LLC in 2016.[60] Sayoc's home was foreclosed in 2009 and he filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2012 after accumulating debts of more than $21,000.[64]

Sayoc is a bodybuilder and has abused steroids. He has made numerous false claims about himself and his background. He claimed during a 2014 deposition that he played soccer for A.C. Milan and arena football for the Arizona Rattlers, which both teams have denied. He claimed to have been a popular stripper, an owner of a strip club, and partner in Chippendales; the company says he never worked there and "has never been affiliated in any way with Chippendales".[70]

At the time of his 2012 bankruptcy, Sayoc said he was employed as a store manager of Hassanco Investments in Hollywood, Florida.[60] From January 2017 to January 2018, he worked part time making deliveries for a pizzeria in Fort Lauderdale.[71] At the time of his arrest, he was working as a DJ and doorman at a West Palm Beach strip club.[72]

Sayoc is a registered Republican.[56][57][58] He registered with the Republican Party on March 4, 2016.[73] Sayoc filmed himself wearing a MAGA hat at one of the president's rallies.[74] Sayoc was active on Twitter and Facebook, where since 2016 he was known for his extreme views and frequently posted pro-Trump and anti-liberal messages and memes, as well as right-wing conspiracy theories and stories from InfoWars, WorldNetDaily, and Breitbart News.[75][76]

Reports of previous threats[edit]

Ilya Somin, a libertarian-leaning law professor at George Mason University and a scholar at the Cato Institute, reported that he was the subject of death threats from Sayoc made on Facebook in April 2018. According to Somin, after he appeared on a Fox News interview criticizing those who hold anti-immigration views, Sayoc (using an alias) posted on his Facebook and threatened to kill Somin and his family and "feed the bodies to Florida alligators". At the time, Somin's Facebook friends reported the comments to Facebook, which did not respond except for automated messages. Somin also reported the incident to George Mason University police and Arlington, Virginia law enforcement.[77]

Democratic strategist Rochelle Ritchie had also received a threatening tweet from Sayoc on October 11 that said: "Hug your loved ones real close every time you leave you home"; Twitter initially failed to act on this. Sayoc's accounts were permanently suspended after his arrest, and Twitter representatives have since apologized to Ritchie.[78]

Van seizure[edit]

Sayoc's van was seized by law enforcement when he was apprehended. It was covered with images of Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, along with a sticker that read "CNN Sucks".[79][69][80][81][82] Some posters also supported the "unconquered Seminoles", a Native American tribe that was historically based in Florida; two federally recognized tribes are there, and another in Oklahoma. Sayoc has been described as proudly claiming Native American heritage,[69] but the Seminole Tribe of Florida said there was no record of his being a member or employee of the tribe.[83][79][54] Other stickers on the van showed Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, documentarian Michael Moore, CNN commentator and host Van Jones, and 2016 Green Party U.S. presidential candidate Jill Stein with gunsight crosshair designs on their faces.[84] Moore said on Late Night with Seth Meyers on November 2 that the FBI had visited his home to inform him that Sayoc had conducted extensive research on him, according to his computer records.[85]

Reports indicate that "soldering equipment, stamps, envelopes, paper, a printer and powder" were found in Sayoc's van, suggesting that he could have built bombs in it.[65] Law enforcement officials told reporters that Sayoc had a "hit list" of more than 100 people in his van; they informed persons on the list but have not released the names publicly.[86] Sayoc reportedly told officials the bombs were harmless and that he did not want to hurt anyone.[15]

Charges and legal proceedings[edit]

Following his arrest, Sayoc was charged with five federal crimes:[66] "interstate transportation of an explosive"; "illegal mailing of explosives"; "threats against former presidents and certain other persons"; "threatening interstate communications"; and "assaulting federal officers".[87] The charges were filed by federal prosecutors of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY).[88] Prosecutors from the SDNY said electronic devices owned by Sayoc had data showing that he began planning the attacks in July 2018.[89]

Sayoc was arraigned in Miami on October 29, 2018, and his court-assigned lawyer entered a plea of not guilty.[15] Three days later, he was ordered to be transferred to New York for trial.[90] On November 6, 2018, a New York judge ordered Sayoc to be held without bail in the Metropolitan Correctional Center, New York.[91]

On March 21, 2019, Sayoc pleaded guilty to 65 felony counts, including using weapons of mass destruction in an attempted domestic terrorist attack. In court, Sayoc stated: "I sent all 16 devices with the intent to threaten or intimidate. I know these actions were wrong."[4] Sayoc said that he did not intend for the bombs to explode, but "was aware of the risk that [they could] explode."[4]

He was sentenced to 20 years in prison on August 5, 2019.[17] During sentencing, Judge Jed S. Rakoff stated that the bombs were purposely designed not to explode or cause anyone damage. Bomb experts agreed that Sayoc's packages were not configured to detonate.[92] In sentencing Sayoc, Rakoff said he had concluded that Sayoc was capable of concocting a pipe bomb that could explode and had consciously chosen not to.[93]

Motives[edit]

In a filing by the defense on July 22, 2019, Sayoc's attorneys said he had "lost everything in the Great Recession", had "cognitive limitations and severe learning disabilities", and was "abandoned by his father and sexually abused by a teacher at his Catholic school." They said that he suffered from "anxiety and paranoia" and that he "came to believe that prominent Democrats were actively working to hurt him". They also said he was an avid Fox News viewer (especially the shows Fox & Friends and Hannity) and on social media, he "promoted various conspiracy theories, and more generally, the idea that Trump's critics were dangerous, unpatriotic, and evil."[94] At sentencing, Sayoc said before he mailed the bombs his idea "first was how to tone down the liberal left violence platform." He wrote that he believed prominent Democrats were encouraging violence, and said that he had been attacked personally.[92]

Incarceration[edit]

On October 22, 2019, Sayoc began serving his 20-year sentence at United States Penitentiary, Marion. In February 2022, Sayoc was transferred from Marion to FCI Butner Medium II. His earliest possible release date is November 10, 2035.[95]

Reactions[edit]

Political[edit]

"President Trump Condemns Mailing of Explosive Devices to Democrats", from a speech made at the White House on October 24 (video from Voice of America)

Hillary Clinton thanked the Secret Service for intercepting the package and during a political event in Florida on behalf of Congressional candidate Donna Shalala she stated "Every day we are grateful for their commitment, and obviously never more than today, but it is a troubling time isn't it? And it's a time of deep divisions, and we have to do everything we can to bring our country together."[96] John Brennan pointed directly to Trump's rhetoric, saying that Trump "fuels these feelings and sentiments that now are bleeding over into potential acts of violence ... Unfortunately, I think Donald Trump, too often, has helped to incite some of these feelings of anger, if not violence, when he points to acts of violence or also talks about, you know, swinging at somebody from the press or the media."[96]

Several sources pointed out that some of the targets of the mailings, such as Clinton and Waters, are people that Trump routinely attacks at his campaign rallies – his "favorite punching bags."[97][98] New York Mayor Bill de Blasio described the packages as "an act of terror" and stated that all politicians must stop encouraging attacks on media.[99] Biden said of the attempts, "we've got to turn off this hate machine."[100] Wasserman Schultz responded saying, "We will not be intimidated by this attempted act of violence. This appalling attack on our democracy must be vigorously prosecuted, and I am deeply disturbed by the way my name was used."[101] Waters said, "I don't know whether the bombs are real or not, but we should not crawl under the bed, close the doors, not go out, be afraid to go to rallies. We have to keep to doing what we're doing in order to make this country right; that's what I intend to do, and as the young people say, I ain't scared."[102]

President Trump's responses[edit]

Trump held a midterm campaign rally in Mosinee, Wisconsin, on October 24, during the height of the mailings. He said of the bombings:

My highest duty, as you know, as President, is to keep America safe. That's what we talk about. That's what we do. The federal government is conducting an aggressive investigation and we will find those responsible and we will bring them to justice. Hopefully very quickly. Any acts or threats of political violence are an attack on our democracy, itself. No nation can succeed that tolerates violence or the threat of violence as a method of political intimidation, coercion, or control. We all know that. Such conduct must be fiercely opposed and firmly prosecuted. We want all sides to come together in peace and harmony. We can do it. We can do it. We can do it. It will happen.[103]

The next day, Trump claimed on Twitter that the mainstream media were largely responsible for anger present in American society.[104] His comments were echoed by former White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who said that Trump had urged the public to come together and had sent a very clear, strong unmistakable message that acts or threats of political violence had no standing in the United States. Sanders then attacked statements by CNN President Jeff Zucker, claiming that he "chose to attack and divide."[105] Trump also tweeted against the media, on October 24, stating, "Funny how lowly rated CNN, and others, can criticize me at will, even blame me for the current state of Bombs and ridiculously comparing this to September 11th and the Oklahoma City bombing, yet when I criticize them they go wild and scream, 'it's just not Presidential!'"[106]

Appearing before a group of young black conservatives an hour after the arrest, Trump praised the swift action by law enforcement and promised "swift and certain justice." He added, "We must never allow political violence to take root in America. We cannot let it happen. I am committed to do everything in my power as president to stop it and stop it now." A few minutes later he attacked Democrats and the media, to cheers from the crowd.[107] Later in the day he told reporters that he was in no way to blame for the attacks and had no plans to do anything differently. Asked if he might tone down his rhetoric in response to the mail bombs, he replied, "Tone down, no. Could tone up. I think I've been toned down, if you want to know the truth."[108]

On October 26, Trump claimed that news coverage of the pipe bombs targeting Democratic politicians and critics of his policies had drowned out other news stories and slowed Republican voting in the mid-term election. He tweeted, "Republicans were doing so well in early voting, and at the polls, and now this 'Bomb' stuff happens and the momentum greatly slows – news not talking politics. Very unfortunate, what is going on."[109]

Media[edit]

CNN President Jeff Zucker said about the mailings, "There is a total and complete lack of understanding at the White House about the seriousness of their continued attacks on the media. The president, and especially the White House press secretary, should understand their words matter. Thus far, they have shown no comprehension of that."[110] Zucker later stated that all mail sent to any CNN building will now be screened offsite.[8] CNN also reported that the bombings were one of three hate-motivated incidents that took place in the United States the same week, along with shootings in a synagogue in Pittsburgh and a Kroger grocery store in Jeffersontown, Kentucky.[111]

Following the news of the events, the hashtag "#MAGABomber" began trending on Twitter, referring to Trump's 2016 campaign slogan, "MAGA" (Make America Great Again).[112][113]

Conspiracy theories[edit]

The incident has been the subject of conspiracy theories saying the events are part of a false flag operation, that the attacks were staged by those who hoped to cast the blame on Trump supporters.[114] When the incidents were first reported, conservatives such as columnist Kurt Schlichter and conspiracy theorist and radio host Alex Jones issued social media posts and articles through InfoWars to assert their belief that the incidents were false flags, a "super convenient turn of events", and a potential "political stunt". Many of the comments were deleted as more information was received about the case.[115]

After having been started by overtly conspiracist outlets, the false flag narrative was later picked up by some mainstream conservatives.[116][117] Commentator Rush Limbaugh said that Republicans could not be responsible for the packages, that "Republicans just don't do this kind of thing. Even though every event, like mass shootings, remember, every mass shooting there is, the Democrats in the media try to make everybody think right off the bat that some tea partier did it, or some talk radio fan did it, or some Fox News viewer did it. Turns out, it's never, ever the case." Limbaugh instead raised unsubstantiated claims that the perpetrator might have been a "Democrat operative ... attempting to create the appearance that there are mobs everywhere."[118][119][120] Other right-wing commentators who tried to spread the "false flag" conspiracy theories included Ann Coulter, Dinesh D'Souza, Michael Savage, James Woods, Frank Gaffney, Candace Owens, and Laura Loomer.[121][122]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Statement on the FBI's Investigation of Suspicious Packages" (Press release). Federal Bureau of Investigation. October 24, 2018. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e Rashbaum, William K.; Feuer, Alan; Goldman, Adam (October 25, 2018). "Pipe Bombs Investigation Turns Toward Florida as More Trump Critics Are Targeted". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  3. ^ Wootson Jr., Cleve R.; Horton, Alex (October 25, 2018). "Bomb timeline: What we know about the 10 devices sent to prominent Democrats, Trump critics". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Orden, Erica; Chavez, Nicole (March 21, 2019). "Mail bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc pleads guilty". CNN. Archived from the original on March 21, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  5. ^ Fagenson, Zachary; Woodall, Bernie (October 26, 2018). "Florida man charged in connection with 14 mail bombs sent to Trump critics". CompuServe. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Breakdown on explosive packages, where they were sent and what was inside". Associated Press. October 26, 2018. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Federal authorities took a Florida man into custody Friday in connection with the mail-bomb scare that earlier widened to 14 suspicious packages sent to prominent Democrats from coast to coast.
  7. ^ "Sen. Kamala Harris, Tom Steyer targeted by pipe bombs, FBI investigating". SFGate. October 26, 2018. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c BREAKING: Suspicious package addressed to CNN intercepted at Atlanta post office, official says Atlanta-Journal Constitution, October 29, 2018
  9. ^ a b CNN Communications Archived October 30, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Twitter, October 29, 2018
  10. ^ a b c New: Package to CNN intercepted today similar to others sent by Sayoc. Image here: Archived February 19, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Jim Sciutto on Twitter
  11. ^ "Wray: 13 bombs sent are not hoax devices". CNN Video. October 26, 2018. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  12. ^ Bojorquez, Manuel (October 29, 2018). "Package bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc had list of 100 names in van, official says". CBS News. Archived from the original on February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  13. ^ "Judge Orders Pipe Bomb Suspect Cesar Sayoc Held Without Bail". NPR. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  14. ^ Evan Perez; Mark Morales; Shimon Prokupecz; Brynn Gingras; Karl de Vries (October 26, 2018). "Arrest made in connection to suspicious packages". CNN. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  15. ^ a b c Pipe bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc formally charged at first court appearance Archived October 29, 2018, at the Wayback Machine CNN, October 29, 2018
  16. ^ Kara Scannell; Evan Perez (October 25, 2018). "The manhunt: FBI treating serial bomber as domestic terrorism". CNN. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  17. ^ a b "Cesar Sayoc, who mailed explosive devices to Trump's critics, sentenced to 20 years in prison". The Washington Post. August 5, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  18. ^ Murray, Kelly (October 22, 2018). "Explosive device found near home of billionaire investor George Soros". CNN. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  19. ^ "George Soros: Bomb squad destroy explosive device near billionaire's home". BBC News. October 23, 2018. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  20. ^ a b Pitofsky, Marina (October 24, 2018). "Suspicious packages sent to Clintons, Obamas, CNN: What we know so far". USA Today. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018.
  21. ^ Here's everything we know after studying the mail bomb packages Archived October 28, 2018, at the Wayback Machine CNN, October 26, 2018
  22. ^ a b Sciutto, Jim (October 24, 2018). "Breaking: photo of package containing live explosive device sent to CNN". Twitter. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  23. ^ a b c de Vries, Karl; Perez, Evan; Prokupecz, Shimon (October 24, 2018). "'Act of terror': Bombs sent to CNN, Clintons, Obamas, Holder". CNN. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018.
  24. ^ "Ex-CIA Chief John Brennan Signs as MSNBC/NBC as Contributor". TheWrap. February 2, 2018. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  25. ^ NBC News (October 24, 2018). "Watch CNN Anchors Report On Their Own Office Being Evacuated Over Pipe Bomb – NBC News". www.nbc.com. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  26. ^ "CNN mail bomb is latest case of attacks and threats against US news rooms". www.cpj.com. October 24, 2018. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  27. ^ Bolduan, Kate (October 24, 2018). "Part of my amazing team that literally put a show on tv today via a cellphone and a Skype connection. Love you guys". Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  28. ^ Andrew J. Hawkins (October 24, 2018). "How police use a 'total containment vessel' to haul away explosive devices". www.theverge.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  29. ^ Breuninger, Kevin (October 24, 2018). "Suspected mail bombs sent to Clinton, Obama, CNN building and others intercepted". CNBC. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  30. ^ Winton, Richard (October 24, 2018). "Package addressed to Rep. Maxine Waters prompts evacuation of South L.A. mail facility". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  31. ^ a b c Josh Margolin; Bill Hutchinson; Aaron Katersky; Meghan Keneally; Jack Date; Tara Palmeri; Mike Levine; Pierre Thomas; Julia Jacobo; Karma Allen (October 24, 2018). "Explosive devices sent to Clinton, Obama, other Democrats, and CNN". ABC News. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  32. ^ Jonathan Dienst; Joe Valiquette; Marc Santia; Jennifer Millman; Benjamin Carroll (October 25, 2018). "Two Suspicious Packages Addressed to Joe Biden Seized in Delaware, One Sent to Robert De Niro in New York". NBC New York. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  33. ^ a b Ockerman, Emma (October 25, 2018). "Two new pipe bombs said to target Joe Biden". Vice News. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  34. ^ a b Bomb squad called to assist in package investigation at Florida mail facility Archived October 25, 2018, at the Wayback Machine CNN, October 25, 2018
  35. ^ Balsamo, Michael; Tucker, Eric; Long, Colleen (October 26, 2018). "More suspicious packages found, these to Booker, Clapper". AP NEWS. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  36. ^ Riya Bhattacharjee; Andrew Blankstein; Kristofer Noceda (October 26, 2018). "Suspicious Packages Sent to Sen. Kamala Harris, Tom Steyer Tied to Mail Bomb Suspect: FBI". NBC San Diego. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  37. ^ "Trump clashes with Jim Acosta in testy exchange", CNN, November 7, 2018, retrieved November 26, 2018
  38. ^ Trump's Orlando Crowd Erupts Into A “CNN Sucks” Chant The DC Shorts on YouTube June 18, 2019
  39. ^ Another Suspicious Package Sent To Trump Target Tom Steyer Archived November 11, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Huffington Post, November 2, 2018
  40. ^ a b Coaston, Jane; Stewart, Emily; Kirby, Jen (October 24, 2018). "Someone sent explosive devices to the Clintons and Obamas. Here's what we know". Vox. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  41. ^ Rice, Doyle (October 25, 2018). "More bomb-like devices found, 1 near Robert De Niro's offices in NYC and 2 addressed to Joe Biden in Delaware". USA Today. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  42. ^ Noah Bierman; Del Quentin Wilber; Richard Winton. "Potential explosive devices sent to Obama, Hillary Clinton, former CIA chief John Brennan and former Atty. Gen. Holder – Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  43. ^ Hays, Tom. "The Latest: 2 suspicious packages addressed to Rep. Waters". Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  44. ^ "'Explosive devices' sent to Clinton, Obama, CNN, and other US officials". BBC News. October 24, 2018. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  45. ^ Investigators search Florida mail facility for clues to bombmaker Archived October 26, 2018, at the Wayback Machine CNN, October 25, 2018
  46. ^ As national bomb probe continues, authorities turn focus to Florida Archived October 25, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Newsday, October 25, 2018
  47. ^ Barrett, Devlin; Berman, Mark; Zapotosky, Matt (October 26, 2018). "Man in Florida arrested, charged in connection with 13 mail bombs sent to public figures". Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  48. ^ John Wenzel (May 1, 2016). "How a catchphrase can help or hurt a comedian's career: 'Git R Done' and beyond". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on October 30, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  49. ^ Collins, Ben. "Explosive device sent to CNN featured parody ISIS flag, 'Get Er Done' inscription". NBC News. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  50. ^ "Photos of the bomb and package sent to CNN". Twitter. October 24, 2018. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  51. ^ Christian De La Rosa, Andrea Torres (October 26, 2018). "Mail-bomb plot investigation continues in Opa-locka". www.local10.com. Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  52. ^ Pegues, Jeff (October 26, 2018). "Fingerprint, DNA and cellphone tracking led investigators to mail bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc". CBS News. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  53. ^ "Mail bombs: FBI investigators check Florida leads". BBC. October 26, 2018. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  54. ^ a b Jason Hanna; Evan Perez; Scott Glover. "Bomb suspect arrest: What we know about Cesar Sayoc". CNN. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  55. ^ How the alleged bomber was caught Archived November 12, 2018, at the Wayback Machine CNN, October 29, 2018
  56. ^ a b Rashbaum, William K.; Feuer, Alan; Goldman, Adam (October 26, 2018). "Pipe Bomb Suspect Arrested in Southern Florida". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  57. ^ a b Frosch, Dan; Kano-Youngs, Zolan (October 26, 2018). "Letter-Bomb Suspect Is in Custody – Cesar Sayoc, 56, is in custody, officials say; two packages were found Friday addressed to Sen. Cory Booker and James Clapper". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  58. ^ a b c Perez, Evan; Morales, Mark; Prokupecz, Shimon; Gingras, Brynn (October 26, 2018). "Arrest made in connection to suspicious packages". CNN News. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  59. ^ Suspected Mail Bomber Grew Up In Brooklyn. Was He Your Neighbor? Archived October 28, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Bklyner, October 26, 2018
  60. ^ a b c d What we know about Cesar Sayoc, the Florida man suspected of mailing more than a dozen bombs Archived October 26, 2018, at the Wayback Machine USA Today, October 26, 2018
  61. ^ Cesar Sayoc's Family: Suspect's Father Was an Immigrant, Heavy.com, October 26, 2018
  62. ^ Who is Cesar Sayoc? What we know about the suspected mail bomber arrested in Florida Archived October 26, 2018, at the Wayback Machine The Washington Post, October 26, 2018
  63. ^ "Cesar Sayoc 'Found A Father In Trump', Family Attorney Tells Anderson Cooper" Archived October 27, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Huffington Post, October 25, 2018
  64. ^ a b Bomb suspect described as 'loner' with long arrest record Archived October 27, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Oregon Live, October 26, 2018
  65. ^ a b 4-day manhunt for suspect ends in arrest, but search for more mail bombs isn't over Archived October 27, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, Ralph Ellis, CNN, October 27, 2018
  66. ^ a b Wootson, Cleve R.; Zapotosky, Matt; Berman, Mark; Gowen, Annie (October 26, 2018). "Who is Cesar Altieri Sayoc? What we know about the suspected mail bomber arrested in Florida". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  67. ^ "LIVE VIDEO: DOJ provides new information on package bomb suspect". Fox 8. October 26, 2018. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Sayoc was sentenced in August 2002 for threatening to throw a bomb in a conversation with a Florida utility representative, according to Ronald Lowy, a Miami attorney who represented him. Dade County court records showed Sayoc served a year's probation after a judge signed a discharge certificate in November 2002.
  68. ^ Jen Kirby (October 26, 2018). "Pipe bomb suspect arrested: what we know". Vox. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Sayoc has an extensive criminal history, including an arrest for a past bomb threat in 2002, according to the Washington Post and the New York Times.
  69. ^ a b c "Cesar Sayoc, package bomb suspect, arrested: What we know". CBS News. October 26, 2018. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  70. ^ "For accused pipe bomber Cesar Sayoc, life was a stage where the truth was a bit player". USA Today. October 26, 2018. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  71. ^ "Bomb suspect was a 'foot soldier' for white supremacy, kept headless dolls in van" Archived October 28, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Bradenton Herald, October 27, 2018
  72. ^ Cesar Sayoc: Alleged pipe bomb mailer worked as DJ at West Palm strip club Ultra Thursday Archived October 28, 2018, at the Wayback Machine WPTV, October 26, 2018
  73. ^ "FACT CHECK: Was Mail Bombing Suspect Cesar Sayoc a Registered Democrat?". Snopes.com. October 29, 2018. According to Florida's voter registration rolls, Sayoc registered as a Republican on 4 March 2016.
  74. ^ McCloskey, Jimmy (October 26, 2018). "Suspected MAGA bomber Cesar Sayoc filmed himself in MAGA hat at Trump rally". Metro. London. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  75. ^ Meg O'Connor; Jessica Lipscomb (October 26, 2018). "Social Media Posts Show Florida Bomber Cesar Sayoc Held Extremist Views". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018.
  76. ^ Kevin Roose, Cesar Sayoc's Path on Social Media: From Food Photos to Partisan Fury Archived March 20, 2019, at the Wayback Machine, New York Times (October 27, 2019).
  77. ^ Somin, Ilya (October 27, 2018). "Mail Bomber Cesar Sayoc Threatened Me on Facebook". Reason.com. Reason Foundation. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  78. ^ Twitter 'deeply sorry' for failing to act on threatening tweets sent by bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc Archived October 27, 2018, at the Wayback Machine The Independent, October 27, 2018
  79. ^ a b Bump, Philip (October 26, 2018). "The mail-bomb suspect's van, annotated". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  80. ^ Lisa Ryan (October 26, 2018). "What to Know About the Man Arrested in Connection With the Mail Bombs". The Cut. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018.
  81. ^ "The Latest: Man in Custody in Bomb Case Is Cesar Sayoc, 56". U.S. News & World Report. October 26, 2018. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  82. ^ Jessica McBride (October 26, 2018). "Cesar Sayoc Called Trump 'Greatest Commander Chief'". Heavy.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. In addition, Sayoc, 56, of Florida, drove a van that was covered with pro-Trump and Republican decals and stickers.
  83. ^ Bitner, Gary (October 26, 2018). "Statement from the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Seminole Gaming and Hard Rock International". Cision PR Newswire. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  84. ^ Suspect's van – plastered with Trump, Pence stickers – a focus of bomb investigation Archived October 31, 2018, at the Wayback Machine CNN, October 27, 2018
  85. ^ Michael Moore Says FBI Visited Him Over Mail Bomb Suspect's Research on Filmmaker Archived December 31, 2018, at the Wayback Machine The Hollywood Reporter, November 2, 2018
  86. ^ Blinder, Alan; Rashbaum, William K. (October 29, 2018). "Mail Bomb Suspect Had a List of 100 Potential Targets, Officials Say". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 30, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  87. ^ Mangan, Dan (October 26, 2018). "Fingerprint leads to federal charges against Florida man Cesar Sayoc for bombs sent Obama, Clinton and other Trump critics". CNBC. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  88. ^ Ward, Alex (October 26, 2018). "These are the federal charges against the suspected pipe bomb maker". Vox. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  89. ^ Mail bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc planned 'domestic terrorist attack' since July, prosecutors say Archived November 1, 2018, at the Wayback Machine ABC News, October 31, 2018
  90. ^ Judge orders transfer of Florida pipe bomb suspect to New York for trial Archived November 3, 2018, at the Wayback Machine USA Today, November 2, 2018
  91. ^ Judge Orders Pipe Bomb Suspect Cesar Sayoc Held Without Bail Archived November 7, 2018, at the Wayback Machine NPR, November 6, 2018
  92. ^ a b Hays, Tom; Neumeister, Larry (August 5, 2019). "Cesar Sayoc, the Florida man who sent pipe bombs to Trump critics, is sentenced to 20 years". AP News. Archived from the original on June 4, 2022.
  93. ^ Weiser, Benjamin (August 5, 2019). "Cesar Sayoc, Who Mailed Pipe Bombs to Trump Critics, Is Sentenced to 20 Years". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  94. ^ Mail bomber Cesar Sayoc obsessed with Trump, Fox News, chilling new court filings show ABC News, July 23, 2019
  95. ^ "Inmate Locator". www.bop.gov.
  96. ^ a b Cheyenne Haslett; Erica Y King (October 25, 2018). "John Brennan, Hillary Clinton react to suspicious packages addressed to them and others". ABC News. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  97. ^ Campbell, Andy (October 24, 2018). "All The Targets In This Week's Mail Attacks Have Been Trump's Worst Enemies". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  98. ^ Pasquini, Maria (October 25, 2018). "All the Times Donald Trump Has Insulted the Targets of Attempted Pipe Bomb Attacks". People. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  99. ^ Swaine, Jon (October 24, 2018). "Suspected bombs sent to prominent Trump critics 'an act of terror'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  100. ^ Joe Biden says 'we've got to turn off this hate machine' in reaction to pipe bombs Archived October 26, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Global News, October 25, 2018
  101. ^ Wasserman Schultz a Target for Would-Be Bomber: 'We Will Not Be Intimidated' Archived October 25, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Sunshine State News, October 25, 2018
  102. ^ EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Maxine Waters Responds To Being Targeted By Bomb Threats: 'I Ain't Scared.' Archived October 25, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Blavity, October 26, 2018
  103. ^ Follow President Trump's rally in Wisconsin Archived October 25, 2018, at the Wayback Machine CNN, October 24, 2018
  104. ^ Stracqualursi, Veronica; Stark, Liz (October 25, 2018). "Trump claims media to blame for 'anger' after bombs sent to CNN, Dems". CNN. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  105. ^ Cole, Brendan (October 25, 2018). "Sarah Huckabee Sanders hits back at CNN boss saying 'You chose to attack and divide'". Newsweek. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  106. ^ de Moraes, Lisa (October 26, 2018). "Donald Trump Tweets 'Bombs' Intended to Slow GOP Midterm Momentum, Blasts "Ridiculous" 9/11 Comparisons". Deadline. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  107. ^ Edelman, Adam (October 26, 2018). "Trump hails quick arrest of pipe bomb suspect, vows 'swift and certain justice'". NBC News. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  108. ^ Wilkie, Christina (October 26, 2018). "Trump: I'll 'pass' on calling Clinton, Obama after pipe bomb arrest". CNBC. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  109. ^ "Trump says 'Bomb' stuff' slowing Republican momentum at polls". Reuters. October 26, 2018. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  110. ^ Barr, Jeremy (October 24, 2018). "CNN President Jeff Zucker Blasts Trump White House After Bomb Threat: "Words Matter"". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  111. ^ Sanchez, Ray, and Gray, Melissa. "72 hours in America: Three hate-filled crimes. Three hate-filled suspects." Archived October 30, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, CNN, 29 October 2018. Retrieved on 30 October 2018.
  112. ^ Harper, Jennifer (October 24, 2018). "#MAGABomber trends on Twitter following bomb-scare incidents targeting Democrats, CNN". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  113. ^ Gilmour, David (October 24, 2018). "#MAGAbomber trending on Twitter after domestic bombing scare". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  114. ^ Roose, Kevin (October 25, 2018). "'False Flag' Theory on Pipe Bombs Zooms From Right-Wing Fringe to Mainstream". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  115. ^ Spinelli, Dan (October 24, 2018). "Right-wing commentators have already decided the explosive packages are a false flag". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  116. ^ Wilson, Jason (October 26, 2018). "High-profile conservatives claim mail bombs are an attack by the left". the Guardian. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  117. ^ Coaston, Jane (October 25, 2018). "Why some on the far right believe Democrats sent themselves bombs in the mail". Vox. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  118. ^ Wise, Justin (October 24, 2018). "Limbaugh on bomb threats to Democrats: 'Republicans just don't do this kind of thing'". The Hill. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  119. ^ Ohlheiser, Abby; Selk, Avi (October 25, 2018). "The instant, inevitable cries of 'false flag' after bomb threats targeting the Clintons, Obamas and CNN". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  120. ^ Cillizza, Chris (October 26, 2018). "Debunking the despicable 'false flag' theory on the mail bombs". CNN. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  121. ^ "The Children of Alex Jones". The Weekly Standard. October 25, 2018. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  122. ^ "Flight of the #FalseFlag Conservatives". The Weekly Standard. October 26, 2018. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2018.

External links[edit]