Several Democratic lawmakers from Connecticut said they were targeted by bomb threats at their homes on Thanksgiving Day.
U.S. Reps. Jim Himes, Jahana Hayes, John Larson and Joe Courtney said they were notified Thursday of bomb threats targeting their homes, but no devices were found. A spokesman for Senator Chris Murphy declared that the lawmaker also received a threat at his home, saying the incident “appears to be part of a coordinated effort involving multiple members of Congress and public figures.”
In one statement shared onlineHimes said he was “made aware of a bomb threat targeting my home where I was celebrating Thanksgiving with my family.”
“Thankfully, after a quick and thorough response by the Capitol Police, Greenwich Police and Stamford Police, no evidence of a bomb was found,” Himes said.
He added: “There is no place for political violence in this country, and I hope we can all continue through the festive season in peace and civility.”
In her own statementsaid Hayes that she was notified Thursday morning by Wolcott police “that they had received a threatening email stating that a pipe bomb had been placed in the mailbox at my home.”
“At this time the investigation is ongoing,” Hayes continued. “I thank the law enforcement authorities for their prompt attention to this matter. Their actions show that there is no place for political violence in our country.”
On his website, Larson said that “East Hartford police came to my house in response to a bomb threat.”
He added, “I am grateful that my colleagues in Connecticut’s Congressional delegation, who received similar threats, are also safe.”
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A spokesman for Courtney said the congressman’s home was “the target of a bomb threat while he and his family were home celebrating Thanksgiving.”
Vernon Police Department told the media that the incident involving Courtney remains under investigation and no charges have been filed.
JS has contacted Himes, Hayes, Larson, Courtney and Murphy for comment, in addition to the U.S. Capitol Police, Greenwich Police Department, Stamford Police Department, Wolcott Police Department, East Hartford Police Department and Vernon Police Department.
The news comes after new Republican President Donald Trump’s transition team said on Wednesday some of his cabinet picks and appointees were the target of bomb threats and so-called swatting – contacting authorities with a false report of an emergency to provoke a SWAT team or other serious response.