GOP lawmakers condemn attempted attacks on Democrats

Republican lawmakers on Wednesday condemned the attempted attacks on prominent Democratic figures that came in the form of packages containing potentially explosive devices.

The Secret Service and other authorities at the federal and local level say suspicious packages were addressed to Democrats such as former President Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

“An attack on an American who happens to be a Democrat, Republican or Independent is an attack on America,” Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) tweeted. “The terrorist behind this will soon find out that while a free people have politics that are conflictive,if you try to kill any of us you will have to face all of us.”

An attack on an American who happens to be a Democrat, Republican or Independent is an attack on America. The terrorist behind this will soon find out that while a free people have politics that are conflictive,if you try to kill any of us you will have to face all of us.

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) October 24, 2018

The Secret Service said it intercepted two “potential explosive devices” that were mailed to Obama’s home in Washington, D.C., and Clinton’s house in New York state.

{mosads}A third package, which authorities say resembled the first two, was mailed to CNN and reportedly addressed to former CIA Director John Brennan, who served under Obama and has been a critic of the Trump administration.

A fourth suspicious parcel was reportedly addressed to former Attorney General Eric Holder, but was discovered after it was sent to Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), whose address was used on the return label. Holder served in the Obama administration and Wasserman Schultz was chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.

Other GOP lawmakers condemned the incidents.

“We should all stand united against the use of violent acts like those reported today against political and media figures,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) wrote on Twitter. “I condemn any such acts of violence, they have no place in our politics or society at all.”

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) also weighed in.

“Violence is never OK. Reports of bombs sent to the homes of Obama, Clinton, and Soros are deeply, deeply disturbing. America is better than this,” Cruz tweeted. “Political disagreements are fine, even healthy, but we should always be civil and respect each other’s humanity.”

An explosive device was found earlier this week at the home of billionaire philanthropist George Soros, who has funded numerous liberal activist groups.

“I condemn the attempted attacks on former first families Clintons and Obamas, other public officials, and members of the media,” tweeted Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). “People who disagree with one another are not our enemies and cowardly actions such as these must never be tolerated.”

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) tweeted: “Threats of violence toward any American are unacceptable. Whoever is responsible must be found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

Rob Portman, a GOP senator from Ohio, noted that Republican lawmakers have also been on the receiving end of these attempts at violence.

“Suspicious packages also recently delivered to Sen. Susan Collins home & Sen. Ted Cruz campaign,” he wrote on Twitter. “These are all acts of violence that have no place in our country. The perpetrators should be brought to justice.”

The White House on Wednesday called the perpetrators “cowards” and promised to punish those responsible.

President Trump echoed Vice President Pence’s earlier remarks condemning the actions and said he will make full comments on the events later today.

–Updated at 2:38 p.m.