At least five congressional Democrats representing Connecticut had bomb threats called to their homes Thursday — one day after at least 10 of President-elect Donald Trump’s high-profile nominees also were targeted by swatting attempts.
Reps. Joe Courtney, Jahana Hayes, Jim Himes and John Larson, plus Sen. Chris Murphy, were among the latest victims in a list that may grow if other lawmakers confirm they were targets in the Thanksgiving incidents.
It “appears to be part of a coordinated effort involving multiple members of Congress and public figures,” a Murphy spokesperson told Axios.
The FBI is investigating the bogus reports.
Swatting is a dangerous practice that, in the worst-case situations, can threaten the life and property of targets, particularly if there’s a heavily armed police response.
Former Rep. Zee Zeldin (R-NY), Trump’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, said that the threat involving his home involved a “a pro-Palestinian themed message.”
Other targets on Wednesday included Trump’s UN ambassador-designee Elise Stefanik, commerce secretary-designee Howard Lutnick, attorney general-designee Pam Bondi, incoming White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and defense secretary-designee Pete Hegseth.
The motive behind prior spates of harassing reports has varied — and in some instances, the culprit has been a surprise.
Hundreds of threatening calls including bomb threats were placed to Jewish community centers in 2016 and 2017, creating the perception of rising antisemitism — but the perpetrator ultimately was found to be a Jewish Israeli American teen who said, “I did it out of boredom” and claimed he received online payments to place some threats.
