Hillary and Bill Clinton
Suspicious packages containing “potential explosive devices” were sent to Hillary and Bill Clinton’s home in the New York City suburbs late Tuesday and former President Barack Obama’s office in Washington, D.C., early Wednesday, according to the Secret Service.
“The packages were immediately identified during routine mail screening procedures as potential explosive devices and were appropriately handled as such. The protectees did not receive the packages nor were they at risk of receiving them,” the agency said in a statement.
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation and the White House is taking it “extremely seriously,” a senior White House official told NBC News.
“We condemn the attempted violent attacks recently made against President Obama, President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and other public figures,” said White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
“These terrorizing acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The United States Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies are investigating and will take all appropriate actions to protect anyone threatened by these cowards.”
Initial reports that a similar package had been intercepted before arriving at the White House were not accurate, Reuters reported, citing a source familiar with the matter who initially said such a package had been found. CNN had also initially reported that a package had been discovered en route to the White House.
CNN’s New York newsroom was also evacuated Wednesday morning after a “suspicious package” was discovered in the mailroom.
The New Castle Police Department in Chappaqua, where the Clintons live, did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment. Spokespersons for the Clintons and Obamas referred HuffPost to the Secret Service for comment.
The New York FBI said it was aware of the package targeted at the Clintons and is investigating, but declined to comment further.
Just two days ago, police investigated a package containing an explosive device at the home of prominent Democratic donor George Soros, a frequent target of right-wing, anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. His home is also in Westchester County, in a town near where the Clintons live. It is unclear whether the incidents are related.
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