Bomb Threats Target Four Connecticut House Members

On the US Thanksgiving holiday, four of Connecticut’s five House representatives became targets of bomb threats. Representatives Jahana Hayes, Jim Himes, John Larson, and Joe Courtney, all members of the Democratic party, confirmed they were informed by law enforcement about a threat directed at them. In every instance, no explosive device was discovered. Connecticut’s fifth House representative, Rosa DeLauro, did not report receiving a similar alert. These incidents follow a series of comparable hoax threats recently aimed at several individuals nominated by Donald Trump for his cabinet and selected for his White House staff. On Tuesday and Wednesday, at least nine individuals designated by Trump to lead the departments of defence, housing, agriculture, and labour, along with his choice for US ambassador to the United Nations, were issued warnings. Authorities are currently investigating these occurrences. On Thursday, Connecticut Representatives Hayes, Himes, and Larson each issued statements confirming police contact regarding a potential threat. Representative Hayes stated in a post on X, formerly Twitter: “At 7:47am I was notified by Chief Edward Stephens of the Wolcott Police Department that they received a threatening email stating a pipe bomb had been placed in the mailbox at my home…No bomb or explosive material were discovered.” She expressed gratitude to law enforcement and noted that the investigation remains active. A spokesperson for Representative Courtney issued a comparable statement to local news outlets. The statement conveyed that Courtney and his wife “extend their utmost gratitude to the law enforcement officers, whose response should signal to perpetrators that these types of threats will not be tolerated.” The FBI did not provide an immediate response when asked for comment on the incidents. Representative DeLauro, the only Connecticut House member who did not report a threat, was unavailable for comment. The timing of these threats coincides with millions of Americans gathering to observe Thanksgiving, a national holiday known for some of the year’s busiest travel periods. Similar deceptive tactics have recently been employed against other prominent political figures, including judges and prosecutors involved in criminal cases against Trump. Last year, US politicians across the country were subjected to “swatting” incidents around Christmas, with most targets being Republican, though some Democrats were also affected.