U.S authorities have arrested a man who holds a connection with pipe bombs which were sent to top Democrats, former senior US officials and prominent critics, including news network CNN, of President Donald Trump, the Department of Justice said on Friday, Al Jazeera reported.
Following the delivery, Trump Wednesday called on the media to end their ‘hostility’ and ‘false attacks’, AFP reported.
During a campaign rally in Mosinee, Wisconsin, Trump said: “We should not mob people in public spaces or destroy public property. There is one way to settle our disagreements. It’s called peacefully at the ballot box.
FBI Director Christopher Wray told reporters Friday Cesar Sayoc was arrested in connection with the bomb investigation. Wray said Sayoc’s fingerprints were found on a package sent to Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Sayoc was charged with five federal crimes, including threats against former presidents and the illegal mailing of explosives. If he is convicted, Sayoc faces up to 58 years in prison.
The total number of such devices to have been discovered by the authorities last week mounts to 13. On Friday, officials discovered two new packages addressed to US Senator Cory Booker and James Clapper, the former US director of national intelligence.
“This is definitely domestic terrorism, no question about it in my mind,” Clapper told CNN. “This is not going to silence the administration’s critics.”
When Sayoc was arrested, photos of the confiscated van show pro-Trump pictures and more prominently, the slogan ‘CNN SUCKS’.
CNN is prominent in critically covering the policies and actions of the Trump administration, leading many of his rallies to hold signs condemning it.
“There is a total and complete lack of understanding at the White House about the seriousness of their continued attacks on the media,” CNN president Jeff Zucker said earlier.”Words matter. Thus far, they have shown no comprehension of that.”
Trump said on Friday that he knows the suspect was one of his supporters, but said he bears “no blame” for the suspect’s actions.
Authorities said there could be other packages.
