The Los Angeles Police Department was among numerous law enforcement organizations
today keeping a close watch on the investigation into suspicious packages addressed to political
leaders including Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama.
Another suspicious package was found at a congressional mail-sorting center at the U.S.
Capitol, and media reports from Washington, D.C., indicated it was addressed to Rep. Maxine
Waters (CA-43). There was no immediate comment from her office.
In response to the wave of suspicious packages, which prompted some evacuations but caused
no injuries, the LAPD issued a statement saying, “We are aware of the suspicious packages
sent to several locations on the East Coast. Right now, there is no nexus to Los Angeles.
However, we are monitoring the situation and communicating with our federal and local law
enforcement partners.”
According to the Washington Post, the U.S. Secret Service said it had intercepted packages
containing “potential explosive devices” addressed to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in
New York and former President Barack Obama in Washington, while authorities also rushed to
investigate a suspicious package sent to CNN’s headquarters in New York. Suspicious
packages also were sent to former CIA chief John Brennan. The return address on at least
one of the packages was that of Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schulz, whose office received
one of the items when it could not be delivered to the addressee.
The packages were discovered days after an explosive device was found in a mailbox at the
Bedford, N.Y., home of George Soros, the liberal philanthropist who is a frequent target of
criticism from far-right groups.
The devices sent to the Clintons and Obamas were found during screening and did not make it
to them, officials said. The Secret Service said the package addressed to the Chappaqua, N.Y.,
home of the Clintons was recovered late Tuesday.
The package sent to the Obamas’ Washington home was intercepted early Wednesday,
authorities said.
The devices sent to the Clintons and Obamas are suspected to be the work of the same person
who sent a similar device to Soros earlier this week, according to two law enforcement officials
who spoke to the Post on the
condition of anonymity.
These mail bombs prompted security and law enforcement officials across the country to take a
hard look at incoming pieces of mail to look for other, undiscovered bombs.
Authorities urged anyone who receives a suspicious package to contact law enforcement, the
official said.
CNN’s headquarters at the Time Warner Center in New York was evacuated this morning due to
a suspicious package found there. Also evacuated for a time was the building housing the San
Diego Union-Tribune and an office of Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., following the discovery of
suspicious items, but that evacuation was lifted when the boxes were determined to contain
everyday items.
CNN broadcast footage of its staffers outside on the Manhattan streets below, where anchor
Jim Sciutto could be seen on a cellphone reporting that he was told a suspicious package was
mailed to the CNN building.
Jeff Zucker, president of CNN, wrote in a letter to employees that the center was “evacuated
out of an abundance of caution” after the package was found in the mailroom. He also told
employees that CNN had checked on its other bureaus but found no other devices.
