Updated: Homes of Courtney, other Conn. legislators targets of false bomb threats
The Vernon home of U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, was the target of a false bomb threat on Thanksgiving Day, one of several such threats made Thursday against the residences of Democratic legislators from Connecticut.
“Early this morning, Mr. Courtney’s home was targeted with a bomb threat while he and his family were at home to celebrate Thanksgiving,” Sam Varie, a spokesperson for Courtney, said in a new release, adding no bomb was found at the property by local and U.S. Capitol police and a bomb squad. “Joe and Audrey extend their utmost gratitude to the law enforcement officers, whose response should signal to perpetrators that these types of threats will not be tolerated.”
Similar threats were made to the homes of Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Reps. Jahana Hayes, D-5th District; Jim Himes, D-4th District; and John Larson, D-1st District, according to police and news reports. Police who responded said they found no evidence of explosives on the lawmakers’ properties.
There was no immediate word whether Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, or Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., received threats.
The bomb threats against Democrats happened a day after a number of President-elect Donald Trump’s most prominent Cabinet picks and appointees reported that they had received such threats, as well as “swatting attacks," in which perpetrators initiate an emergency law enforcement response against a victim under false pretenses.
Among those who received threats Wednesday were New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations; Matt Gaetz, Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general; Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, whom Trump chose to lead the Department of Labor, and former New York congressman Lee Zeldin, who has been tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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