In a press conference on Friday, authorities confirmed that Cesar Sayoc had been arrested. FBI Director Christopher Wray said investigators confirmed his identity from a fingerprint found on a package sent to Democratic California Rep. Maxine Waters, but it was not clear if the package contained an explosive device.
Wray also said “a possible DNA connection” was found between a DNA sample collected from a prior arrest of the suspect and samples found on “two different [Improvised Explosive Devices] mailed in separate envelopes.”
The suspect was charged with five federal crimes on Friday, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced. The charges, which carry a prison sentence of up to 58 years in prison, include “interstate transportation of an explosive, illegal mailing of explosives, threats against former presidents and certain other persons, threatening interstate communications, and assaulting current and former federal officers.”
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Wray said authorities have uncovered 13 bombs, and that while they are “still analyzing the devices in our laboratory, these are not hoax devices.”
While a suspect had been apprehended, Wray cautioned citizens that “we’re not out of the woods just yet,” saying, “There may be other packages in transit now and other packages on the way.”
Sessions said the investigation had not yet determined why the suspect, who according to the New York Times was a 56-year-old registered Republican from Florida, had mailed the explosives to prominent Democrats and critics of Donald Trump.
RELATED VIDEO: Suspicious Package Sent to Robert De Niro at N.Y.C. Office After Pipe Bombs Mailed to Other Dems
On Friday morning, police were seen surrounding a white van decorated with pro-Trump stickers, which was later hauled away underneath a tarp, although according to the outlet, it is not clear whether the van belonged to the suspect.
The suspect has beenarrested numerous timesin the past, including for a bomb threat in 2002, for which he pleaded guilty, according to theWashington Post. The outlet also reported that a source indicated the suspect lives near the Florida facility where the packages were mailed.
The investigation is still ongoing. It was not immediately clear if the suspect has a lawyer who can comment on his behalf.
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After the FBI initially announced a suspect had been taken into custody,President Trump saidat a White House event, “We will prosecute them, him, her, whoever it may be, to the fullest extent of the law.” He added, “We must never allow political violence to take root in America and I’m committed to doing everything in my power as president to stop it and stop it now.”
2 More Suspicious Packages Found Friday
TheFBI confirmedon Friday that one of the two suspicious packages discovered on Friday morning was similar in appearance to those previously sent and was addressed to Democratic New Jersey Sen. Corey Booker. It was intercepted in Florida.
The other, the NYPD tells PEOPLE, was discovered at post office facility at 322 W. 52nd Street in New York City. The area has since been closed down to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. CNN reports that it was addressed to James Clapper at the news network’s office, the former director of national intelligence, who left the role in 2017.
Clappercalled into CNNafter the news broke, saying, “My wife and I are away from home right now. And our neighbors have been retrieving our mail. Been very concerned about them. So in one sense, it’s kind of a relief, but it’s not a surprise.”
He continued, “This is definitely domestic terrorism. No question about it in my mind.”
Days earlier, an explosive device was found in the mailbox of liberal philanthropist George Soros.
And on Thursday, the FBI confirmed on Twitter that two suspicious packages addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden and “similar in appearance” to the others had been intercepted at mail facilities in Delaware.One was found at a postal centerin New Castle, the Associated Press reported, and the other at a facility in Wilmington.
California Rep. Maxine Waters and actor Robert De Niro were also sent packages on Wednesday and Thursday,respectively.
source: people.com
