Trump cabinet nominees hit with swatting calls, bomb threats

Several members of President-elect Donald Trump’s projected furniture were deed with swatting calls, weaponry threats and different harassing calls precocious Tuesday nighttime and aboriginal Wednesday morning, according to the FBI.

The bureau issued a connection connected Wednesday, saying the bureau was “aware of galore weaponry threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming medication nominees and appointees, and we are moving with our instrumentality enforcement partners.”

Incoming White House property caput Karoline Leavitt besides confirmed the incidents to Fox News, calling them “violent, un-American threats.”

“Law enforcement acted rapidly to guarantee the information of those who were targeted,” she said Wednesday.

Leavitt did not accidental precisely which members of Trump’s incoming medication were deed with the harassing calls, but Fox News reported astir a twelve furniture nominees were affected. None of the threats appeared to beryllium legitimate.

One of Trump’s picks, Rep. Matt Gaetz, withdrew his sanction from information for the lawyer general’s position. Gaetz, 42, was deed with his ain weaponry threat connected Wednesday morning, according to PunchBowl News. Cops searched his Florida location aft reports of a tube bomb, but Gaetz wasn’t location astatine the time.

Many of Trump’s picks for his 2nd medication — including Gaetz — person been heavy criticized, and respective person a history of intersexual battle and harassment allegations.

Pete Hegseth, the nominee for caput of defense, was accused of intersexual assault successful a 2017 California incident. Police did not prosecute charges against Hegseth, though helium paid the pistillate successful an out-of-court settlement.

Linda McMahon, nominated for caput of education, was named successful a suit alongside her husband, Vince, that said they enabled “rampant intersexual abuse” of young ringing boys astatine their pro wrestling company, WWE. She has denied the allegations.