As of October 22nd, there is a worrisome trend of public figures, who are outspoken critics of Trump, being mailed pipe bomb packages.
The #MAGAbomber hashtag became trending on Twitter on October 24th. MAGA is the acronym for Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan.
It appeared to begin with a pipe bomb sent to George Soros’ New York home. Two more packages were intercepted by Secret Service en route to former US President Barack Obama’s Washington home and former Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton’s New York residence.
On October 24th, one more was discovered at Time Warner Center in New York, where CNN’s newsroom is located. It was addressed to former CIA director John Brennan. Devices sent to California congresswoman Maxine Waters and former Attorney General Eric Holder were also intercepted and are being investigated.
Authorities believe that despite the device Soros received was smaller, it is very similar to the ones sent to the others.
According to authorities the devices were “pipe bombs,” which are “rudimentary, but functional.” They were wrapped in black electrical tape and stuffed full of gunpowder with a digital clock timer attached.
All intercepted packages so far had former DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s office listed as a return address. Schultz’s office in Florida received a similar device.
New York City Mayor Bill deBlasio and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called the packages “an act of terrorism” at a press conference on October 24th.
Leaders of Democrats in Congress, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-California) blamed Trump’s “statements that condone acts of violence” and attack the press.
CNN president Jeff Zucker also lashed out at the White House, denouncing Trump’s “continued attacks on the media.”
Every single recipient of the bomb packages — Soros, Obama, Clinton, Wasserman-Schultz, Holder, CNN — has been a target of Trump’s vicious comments at his raucous rallies. He didn’t light the fire, of course, and he’s condemning it, but he brought the kindling and the matches.
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) October 24, 2018
There are also conspiracy theories that Democrats are making a play for sympathy just two weeks before the mid-term elections. Also, most of violent incidents in the last two years were aimed at Republicans.
When you watch:
– Scalise shot
– GOP pols harassed
– Holder say "kick 'em"
– Obama say "throw them out"
– Hillary say only civility if Dems win
– Waters say harrass Trump supporters
– Antifa beating peopleIt's only logical to question who actually sent the bombs.
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) October 24, 2018
The fact that #MAGABomber is trending with not a shred of evidence is indicative of the deranged times we live in.
— #ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) October 24, 2018
Hillary Clinton, who was in Florida, was quick to make political hay out of the suspicious packages, saying that America is divided and “we have to do everything we can to bring our country together.” She spoke in front of CNN earlier in October calling for no civility against Republicans. “You cannot be civil with a political party that wants to destroy what you stand for, what you care about,” the former presidential candidate said.
Hillary Clinton rejects calls for civility: "You cannot be civil with a political party that wants to destroy what you stand for."pic.twitter.com/HSVKxReVUI
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) October 9, 2018
George Soros also blamed Donald Trump and called for a Democrat victory: “We must find our way to a new political discourse that shuns the demonization of all political opponents. A first step would be to cast our ballots to reject those politicians cynically responsible for undermining the institutions of our democracy. And we must do it now, before it is too late.”
President Trump and his family condemned the packages as “cowardly attacks” and “despicable acts.” Trump promised to bring the “full weight of the government” to bear on those responsible.
I strongly condemn the attempted acts of violence against President Obama, the Clinton family, @CNN & others. There is no excuse—America is better than this.
Gratitude to the @SecretService and law enforcement for all they do to keep this nation safe.
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) October 24, 2018
I agree wholeheartedly! https://t.co/ndzu0A30vU
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 24, 2018
It is yet unclear who sent the packages, if Trump is the cause or if it is, in fact, a sympathy play by the Democrats. RT cited retired US Marshal Matthew Fogg who said that it is difficult to find out whether the packages were sent by a single individual or a group. According to him, more perpetrators means greater odds that “somebody’s going to make a mistake.”
RT further cited former CIA officer Philip Giraldi was more skeptical, saying that tracking down the would-be bomber will be “very difficult, unless they were dumb enough to include fingerprints on the bombs or in the packaging.”
According to Giraldi the package “might be an attempt to create negative sentiment against right-wing groups just before the election to create some kind of shift to the left, but there is no evidence of that.” “And I don’t think it would be successful,” he added, as most people complaining about the bombs are “committed progressives who are already on board to hating Trump and his supporters.”
Two weeks prior to election this incident is of paramount significance. Regardless of who stands behind the packages, they have certainly achieved one thing: the Democrats and opponents of Trump were rallied and are gaining momentum and potentially even more people to their “cause.”
