Some of President Trump’s nominees for cabinet positions and their families are facing threats after heightened media attention ahead of their Senate confirmations in January. The president-elect’s office said Wednesday morning that the threats have not resulted in any harm to the nominees, and that law enforcement is on top of the situation. The Trump transition says the nominees have faced bomb threats and so-called “swatting” incidents in which individuals call in an emergency to 911 and give dispatchers the home address of a lawmaker or prominent individual, resulting in SWAT teams or heavily armed law enforcement officers showing up at their doors. “Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them. These attacks ranged from bomb threats to ‘swatting.’ In response, law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted,” said the transition’s spokeswoman and incoming White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt. “President Trump and the entire Transition team are grateful for their swift action.”Trump’s nominee for United Nations ambassador, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, confirmed that she was one of the nominees who faced such threats. “This morning, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, her husband, and their three year old son were driving home to Saratoga County from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence,” Ms. Stefanik’s office said in a statement. “New York State, County law enforcement, and U.S. Capitol Police responded immediately with the highest levels of professionalism. We are incredibly appreciative of the extraordinary dedication of law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe 24/7.”Shortly after Ms. Leavitt announced that the threats had occurred, Punchbowl News reported that a bomb squad was sent to the Florida home of Congressman Matt Gaetz, who recently withdrew his name from consideration for the position of attorney general. He has also resigned from Congress and says he will not return in January.Trump’s nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, Congressman Lee Zeldin, also confirmed Wednesday that he was a target of the bomb threats. “A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message. My family and I were not home at the time and are safe. We are working with law enforcement to learn more as this situation develops,” Mr. Zeldin announced on X.Trump’s nominee to be secretary of agriculture, Brooke Rollins, similarly said that her home in Texas had been targeted with threats. “This morning, we learned that a threat was issued against our home and family,” Ms. Rollins wrote on X. “I want to express my deep gratitude to the law-enforcement professionals who did their utmost, in both speed and expertise, to protect us — as they protect our community every single day.”Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a recently defeated Republican lawmaker from Oregon, who has been nominated to lead the labor department, announced on Wednesday that she, too, was targeted. “Last night, my family and I were targeted with a pipe bomb threat at our Oregon home. Thanks to the quick response of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, we are safe,” she posted on X.The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking clarification about which other cabinet nominees were targeted.
