The FBI has said it’s investigating threats made against the prospective members of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet.
A Trump spokesperson confirmed that “several” people named to the Cabinet had been targeted in “violent, un-American threats to their lives”.
Current President Joe Biden was briefed about the threats, and a White House spokesperson said the current administration “unequivocally condemns threats of political violence”.
Cabinet
U.S. Presidents are responsible for naming the people they want to lead their government departments and sit in their Cabinet, such as the Attorney-General (Department of Justice) and Secretary of State (foreign affairs).
Many of these roles are subject to the Senate confirmation process. This involves a public interview by a panel of Senators, then a vote of the whole Senate. A majority of the 100 Senators must approve the President’s choice.
The President can also appoint some Cabinet roles independently, such as their Chief of Staff.
Threats
According to Trump’s Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, several appointees were targeted in attacks ranging from “bomb threats to swatting”.
Swatting involves making a fake call to police reporting a life-threatening incident that would require a heightened emergency response.
The goal is for a Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team of armed police to be sent the target’s address.
In 2017, police responding to a fake call fatally shot a man in his home in the U.S. state of Kansas.
Targets
Targets included Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Stefanik released a statement saying she and her family had been driving home for the U.S. holiday Thanksgiving when she was “informed of a bomb threat to [her] residence”.
In a post to X, Lee Zeldin, nominated to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, said a bomb had been sent to his home.
Local authorities in Florida said they had received a bomb threat for the home of a family member of Congressman Matt Gaetz, who Trump had named as his choice for Attorney-General.
Gaetz has since declined the nomination.
Brooke Rollins, the nominee to lead the Agriculture Department, said in a post to X that “a threat was issued against [my] home and family.”
Response
In a statement, the FBI said it was “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents,” and is taking the threats “seriously”.
Leavitt thanked law enforcement agencies for acting “quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted”.
The current White House administration told The New York Times it had been briefed on the threats, and was working with the incoming Trump team to manage the response.
