Five Democratic members of the US Congress from Connecticut received bomb threats at their homes on Thursday. Senator Chris Murphy and Representatives Jim Himes, Joe Courtney, John Larson, and Jahana Hayes were targeted.
Police investigated the threats at each lawmaker’s property but found no explosives. It is unclear whether Representative Rosa DeLauro and Connecticut’s other Democratic senator also received threats.
Murphy’s office said the threat to his Hartford home “appears to be part of a coordinated effort involving multiple members of Congress and public figures.” Hartford and Capitol Police found no danger, “no bomb or explosive materials were discovered,” they said.
Hayes reported being informed by Wolcott Police about “a threatening email stating a pipe bomb had been placed in the mailbox at my home.” Various law enforcement agencies investigated and found nothing.
Courtney’s family was home in Vernon when the threat was received. Himes learned of the threat against his home during a family Thanksgiving gathering. He expressed “utmost gratitude to our local law enforcement officers for their immediate action to ensure our safety” and added, “There is no place for political violence in this country, and I hope that we may all continue through the holiday season with peace and civility.” Larson confirmed East Hartford Police responded to a threat at his home.
The threats came a day after several of President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks and appointees, including New York Representative Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick for UN ambassador, Matt Gaetz, his initial pick for attorney general, Oregon representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer, chosen to lead the Department of Labor, and former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin, selected to lead the EPA, reported similar threats and “swatting attacks,” where criminals falsely report an emergency to prompt a law enforcement response.
Donald Trump’s defence secretary pick, Pete Hegseth, took to X to say that he allegedly received a bomb threat as well. “This morning, a police officer arrived at our home—where our seven children were still sleeping. The officer notified my wife and I that they had received a credible pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family,” Pete said.
