2LT International News

WASHINGTON DC – The Florida man who sent at least fourteen bombs to critics of U.S. President Donald Trump, if convicted could be sent to prison for up to 48 years – meaning, if he got the maximum sentence, he would not be released until 2066 when he would be 104 years old.

Cesar Sayoc, who was snared by FBI agents using DNA and a fingerprint, is facing charges relating to five federal crimes including threats against former presidents.

“We will not tolerate such lawlessness, especially political violence,” U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Friday.

Whilst authorities believe Sayoc acted alone they have not ruled out that he had assistance.

Sayoc, who is 56, was taken into custody after being stopped in Plantation, Florida. A van, believed to have belonged to him, was seized. It was described as a white van plastered depicting pro-Trump stickers, the slogan “CNN SUCKS” and images of Democratic figures with red crosshairs over their faces.

“We must never allow political violence to take root in America, cannot let it happen,” President Trump said Friday. “And I’m committed to doing everything in my power as president to stop it and to stop it now.”

Four more suspicious packages turned up on Friday, taking the total to 14.

Democratic U.S. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, former U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, Democratic U.S. Senator Kamala Harris of California and Democratic donor Tom Steyer were recipients of packaged bombs on Friday.

From Tuesday to Thursday similar packages, some accompanied by envelopes containing white powder, were received by former President Barack Obama , former Vice President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, billionaire Democratic Party donor George Soros, Representative Maxine Waters, former Attorney General Eric Holder, former CIA director John Brennan and actor Robert De Niro.

“If we don’t stop this political mania, this fervor, rancor, hatred, you’ll see this again and again and again,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told MSNBC. “We have to get to the genesis, and the genesis is an overheated, vitriolic political division in this country and it starts with the leaders, and it starts with the president.”

FBI Director Christopher Wray, who appeared alongside Sessions and NYPD Commissioner Jimmy O’Neill at a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington DC on Friday said that fingerprints on a package sent to Representative Maxine Waters belonged to Sayoc. He said he was not able to go into the background or motive of Sayoc as the investigation is still ongoing.

“What I can say is that this was a nationwide investigation of enormous scope and of the greatest importance. Our investigation ranged from New York to Delaware to Maryland to the District of Columbia to Florida to California. As it always does, the FBI responded to this threat with every resource we’ve got, including our Joint Terrorism Task Forces, our Counterterrorism Division, and our world-renowned experts at the FBI Lab in Quantico,” he said.

“But—and I really can’t underscore this enough—we didn’t act alone, as you can see from the agencies and departments represented here today. A threat of this scope and of this magnitude requires all of us working shoulder to shoulder. And today’s arrest is a testament to the strength of our partnerships and what we can do when we all work together.”

“I want to acknowledge the many partners who helped in recovering and transporting these IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) to our lab in Quantico. This is dangerous and highly specialized work that requires great care, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who helped us in getting those to our lab from around the country,” said the FBI director.

“We can confirm that 13 IEDs were sent to various individuals across the country. Each device consisted of roughly six inches of PVC pipe, a small clock, a battery, some wiring, and what is known as “energetic material,” which is essentially potential explosives and material that gives off heat and energy through a reaction to heat, shock, or friction. Though we’re still analyzing the devices in our Laboratory, these are not hoax devices.”

“I want to focus for a moment on the amazing work of the folks at our FBI Lab. Based on their initial analysis, they uncovered a latent fingerprint from one of the envelopes containing an IED that had been sent to Congresswoman Maxine Waters. We have confirmed this fingerprint is that of Cesar Sayoc. There is also a possible DNA connection between samples collected from pieces of two different IEDs, mailed in separate envelopes, and a sample previously collected from Sayoc in connection with an earlier arrest in Florida,” Director Wray said.

“This is phenomenal work, with the greatest pressure, under an incredibly tight time frame. We see unbelievable work like this on TV shows and in Hollywood, but to see it up close, in reality, is something to behold, and we’re so proud of our team at the Lab for their work in keeping people safe and helping us to find the individual responsible.”

“Late last night, we also turned to our partners in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for confirmation of this DNA connection, and we want to thank them in particular for their very quick work. I also want to thank the men and women of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, who remain on high alert every single day to keep the American people safe from harm, and who move quickly and efficiently into action every single time,” the FBI chief said.

“Today’s arrest does not mean we’re out of the woods. There may be other packages in transit now, other packages on the way. So we need the help of everyone out there—every citizen, every law enforcement partner, everyone we’ve got—to help with this investigation in the days to come.”

“If you’ve got any information, please call us on our hotline at 1-800-CALL-FBI or contact the agaency online. No piece of information is too small; every tip could be the one that leads to something very important. And of course, if you see any suspicious activity, please call your local authorities. We need all hands on deck. We need to stay vigilant,” said FBI Director Wray.