By SYDNEY MANNING
Staff Writer
According to the New York Times, and multiple other news outlets, a series of mail bombs were sent to critics of President Trump in October. Reportedly, packages were sent to the Obamas, Clintons, Robert De Niro, John Brennan (that ended up at CNN’s New York office), and many others who have voiced their thoughts about the current administration.
None of the bombs exploded, and no harm was caused. The bombs were sealed in manila envelopes and according to the New York Times, “…containing a 1-inch-by-6-inch length of PVC pipe filled with powder believed to be a pyrotechnic substance and packed with shrapnel. The pipes were also equipped with a small battery, a digital clock as a timer and an initiator, which causes the bomb to explode…”
Law enforcement officials determined that all of these packages most likely were sent through the mail, while some of them went through a United States Postal Service facility near Miami.
Cesar Sayoc, 56, is accused of sending 13 mail bombs to President Trump critics. Sayoc was’t shy about voicing his support for President Trump and very outspoken when it came to expressing his opinions about Trump’s critics.
On Twitter, Sayoc networked conspiracy theories about prominent critics of President Trump, whose opinions did not line up with Sayoc’s own opinions.
According to the Washington Post, “He was crazed, that’s the best word for him,” said Debra Gureghian, the general manager of New River Pizza and Fresh Kitchen in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where Sayoc worked for several months.
A cousin of Sayoc spoke to the Washington Post and said they think this was just a cry for attention, and a way for him to get his opinion out there. They also said Sayoc is,“…a really good guy who wouldn’t want to hurt anyone.”
ABC News reported Sayoc, “waived his right to a pretrial detention hearing before a federal judge in Miami…” He agreed to be transferred from Florida to New York City, to face hearing and prosecution for federal criminal charges.
If convicted, Sayoc “could be sentenced to up to 48 years in prison if convicted of the five federal charges he’s facing: interstate transportation of an explosive; illegal mailing of explosives; threats against former presidents and certain other persons; threatening interstate communications; and assaulting federal officers.”
Are we really safe? How was one man in Florida was able to send 15 bombs through the mail in this country. America is the land of the free, home of the brave-not land of bombings and home of unregulated mail.
There should be laws put into place, procedures, to prevent this from happening. Keeping Americans safe should be a top priority. What if one of these bombs went off on a postal workers truck? Or worse, in a post office where civilians and postal workers are present.
With Election Day coming up on Nov. 6, we as Americans, need to vote in officials who can make changes that keep us safe and out of harm’s way.
