Wednesday @ 9:42 a.m. the U.S. Secret Service issued a tweet stating that two suspicious packages, one addressed to former First Lady, Senator, Secretary of State, and Presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, the other addressed to former President Barack Obama had been intercepted.
In their statement the Secret Service explains that late Tuesday “the Secret Service recovered a single package addressed to Former First Lady Hillary
Clinton in Westchester County, New York.”
The statement goes on to say that early Wednesday “a second package addressed to the residence of former President Barack Obama was intercepted by Secret Service personnel in Washington, DC.”
The Secret Service does note that the packages were found “during routine mail screenings,” and that both packages were intercepted “prior to being delivered to their intended location.”
The intercept of the two suspicious packages on Tuesday night and Wednesday, come shortly after another package was delivered to the home of George Soros, “the billionaire philanthropist,” was not in residence the New York Times reported on Tuesday that the FBI believed the device had been hand delivered to his home.
The full Secret Service Statement regarding the packages addressed to Clinton and Obama.
Update 1
Wednesday morning another “suspicious device,” was found in the Time Warner Center in New York, CNN reports, that the building including the CNN newsroom has been evacuated “as a precaution.”
CNN originally reported that a similar “pipe bomb,” that was sent to Soros’s home had been intercepted addressed to the White House, the Secret Service through a spokesperson says, they have only intercepted the two packages addressed to Clinton and Obama.
Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a statement regarding the packages addressed to Clinton and Obama, via CNN, “We condemn the attempted violent attacks recently made against President Obama, President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and other public figures. 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.”
Update 2
CNN reported that the package that had been received in the mail-room was addressed to former CIA director John Brennan. Brennan had his security clearance revoked by President Trump as the News Blender reported at the time, he was the first among others named by the White House who might potential lose their security clearance, the list included former FBI director James Comey.
Hillary Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea Clinton, posted a thank you to the Secret Service via Twitter
Retiring Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) also issued a statement via tweet.
CNN is also reporting that the office of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) has been evacuated after a suspicious package was found. Spokesman for the police department Officer Chris Piper told CNN the area is secured and the bomb squad is on site. It’s not clear if the package contains a similar device to those mailed to Clinton, Obama, and found at the home of Soros.
President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have condemned the packages sent to Obama and Clinton via Twitter
CNN via tweet reports that the package delivered to their office has been removed heading for the Bronx where it will be safely disposed.
Press Secretary Sarah Sanders has issued a statement via tweet.
Local San Diego news channel 7 (NBC) is reporting that a building housing The San Diego Union-Tribune has been evacuated due to a suspicious package.
Update 3
The San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that the suspicious package that was found at their office building, which they share with Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA), has been X-rayed and found contain everyday items. Lt. Kevin Wadhams of the San Diego police department said the boxes contained, “one shoe, two children’s books, one football, one empty bag of chips and one hat.” According to surveillance footage, the boxes where dropped off by an “unknown suspect about 1:45 a.m. pacific time.
FBI Special Agent C. Bryan Paarmann said via CNN that “so far the devices have been what appear to be pipe bombs.”
CNN anchor Jim Sciutto posted a picture of the package received in the mail-room of the Time Warner building. During a press conference via CNN, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters that a device was sent to his office, he said it was “being handled.” He also believes other devices will be found, “As you’ve heard there’s a number of devices and there’s a pattern apparently with them.”
CNN also posted a picture of the same package after it was opened.
CNN and other outlets are reporting that former Attorney General Eric Holder was also a target of a suspicious package, however the mailing address was incorrect it was returned to the office of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, her address having been used as the sending address.
CNN reported that a package has been intercepted at “a Congressional mail screening facility in Capitol Heights, Maryland.” The Senate receives their mail at a separate facility a Senate source tells CNN.
Several media outlets are reporting that the FBI is also currently on the scene in FL at the office of Wasserman Schultz’s.
This is a developing story and will be updated
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