President Joe Biden announced that his administration is collaborating with the FBI to investigate a series of bomb threats and "swatting" incidents targeting lawmakers and several of President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees.
The threats, which surfaced earlier this week, have rattled both Democratic lawmakers and Trump’s transition team. Biden condemned the threats, calling them a form of political harassment aimed at destabilizing public service.
"We are working closely with the FBI to ensure the safety of our elected officials and the nominees selected for President Trump’s new administration," Biden said, speaking from Nantucket, Massachusetts, where he spent the Thanksgiving holiday.
Among the individuals targeted were Rep. Seth Magaziner, a Democrat from Rhode Island, and six lawmakers from Connecticut, all of whom received bomb threats at their homes.
Fortunately, law enforcement responded swiftly and found no evidence of explosive devices. However, the incidents have raised serious concerns about the rise in such violent intimidation tactics.
Swatting—a dangerous practice where false reports are made to induce a heavily armed police response—was also employed against prominent political figures, including Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick for U.S. Defense Secretary, and Lee Zeldin, nominated to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. These threats occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday, escalating tensions as Trump prepares to take office in January.
Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House leader, reassured the public that threats will not deter his party from fulfilling their duties. "House Democrats will not be intimidated by violent threats. We will continue serving the people without fear," Jeffries asserted in a statement.
These latest threats come months after an assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania in July, in which he was injured, and a separate incident in Florida where a man was charged with attempted assassination after positioning himself outside one of Trump’s golf courses in September.
As Biden and Trump’s transition teams continue to work together, Biden expressed confidence that both parties would stay united against attempts to intimidate elected officials and nominees.
"I expect to speak to President Trump again soon during the transition process," Biden said, emphasizing that safety and security would remain top priorities.
The increase in violent threats highlights the growing concerns over political extremism and harassment, and law enforcement agencies are intensifying efforts to curb such dangerous activities.
The FBI has been called upon to investigate these threats thoroughly and ensure the safety of those involved in public service.
