Photo: Richard Drew/AP
Donald Trump Jr.liked a tweet that falsely claimed that the pipebombs sent to numerous prominent Democrats and Trump criticsthis week had been fake, and were only sent to engender sympathy for the political party opposing his father.
“BREAKING: WHITE POWDER IN BOMBS NOT BIOLOGICAL OR DANGEROUS. LIKELY BABY POWDER,”began the misleading tweetfrom Twitter account USA News, which has no affiliation with news outletUSA Today.
The tweet went on to falsely claim that the “FAKE BOMBS” were “MADE TO SCARE AND PICK UP BLUE SYMPATHY VOTE” in the upcoming midterm elections.
FBI Director Chris Wray confirmed on Friday that while authorities “are still analyzing the devices in our laboratory, these are not hoax devices.”
The tweet included a Fox News video clip from FBI Assistant Director William Sweeney’s press conference on Thursday. During the media appearance, Sweeney said that a white powder that had been found in some of the packages was “not biological,” The Hill reported.
Confirming its political allegiance, the Twitter account’s bio reads: “Donald Trump has been the greatest President we’ve had in 100 years! Media Lies! Twitter censors us. #DrainTheSwamp #BuildTheWall #ConfirmKavanaughNow.”
FBI Director Wray also confirmed that while authorities “are still analyzing the devices in our laboratory, these are not hoax devices.”
“Each device consisted of roughly of six inches of PVC pipe, a small clock, battery, and energetic material, potential explosives and material that give off heat and energy through a reaction to heat, shock, or friction,” he added.
RELATED VIDEO: Suspicious Package Sent to Robert De Niro at N.Y.C. Office After Pipe Bombs Mailed to Other Dems
While authorities are not yet commenting on the motivation behind the attempted attacks, theNew York Timesreported that Sayoc is a 56-year-old registered Republican from Florida. On Friday morning, police were seen surrounding a white van decorated with pro-Trump stickers, which was later hauled away underneath a tarp, although according to the outlet, it is not clear whether the van belonged to Sayoc.
Sayoc has been arrested numerous times in the past, including for a bomb threat in 2002, for which he pleaded guilty, according to theWashington Post.
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During the press conference, United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions revealed that Sayoc has been charged with “five federal crimes, including interstate transportation of an explosive, illegal mailing of explosives, threats against former presidents and certain other persons, threatening interstate communications, and assaulting current and former federal officers.”
Sayoc faces up to 58 years in prison for those charges. It was not immediately clear if Sayoc has a lawyer who can comment on his behalf.
Shortly before news of Sayoc’s arrest was released on Friday, authoritiesrecovered two additional suspicious packages. One was sent to addressed to Democratic New Jersey Sen. Corey Booker, while a second was addressed to James Clapper, the former director of national intelligence.
Explosive decides were also sent to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former PresidentBarack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, former Attorney General Eric Holder, former CIA chief John Brennan, liberal philanthropist George Soros, actor Robert De Niro and Waters.
source: people.com
