Suspicious packages sent to Harris, Steyer

Law enforcement authorities intercepted suspicious packages Friday sent to Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Democratic mega-donor Tom Steyer amid concerns about more explosive devices sent through the mail. 

The package sent to Harris was intercepted in Sacramento, and the package sent to Steyer was found in Burlingame, Calif.

{mosads}“Our office was informed that a suspicious package was addressed to the Senator similar to those that have been sent to other elected officials. Our understanding is a trained postal employee identified the package at a Sacramento mail facility and reported it to the authorities. No one was injured,” a Harris aide said in a statement to The Hill.

In a later statement, Harris spokesperson Lily Adams said the nation’s leaders are responsible for taking “seriously the power they hold.”

“At this moment, it is incumbent upon leaders across the political spectrum to take seriously the power they hold,” Adams wrote. It is the responsibility of our leaders to use their role as public figures to elevate our discourse and bring people together.”

Steyer said in a statement a “suspicious package” was sent to him, but did not connect it with the others that have been sent around the country.

FBI Director Chris Wray said during a press conference Friday afternoon that law enforcement has taken possession of 13 explosive devices, but acknowledged there may be more.

The package sent to Harris was confirmed by FBI field agent Sean Reagan late Friday to be the 13th suspicious package sent through the mail this week. The one sent to Steyer, if indeed connected with the explosive devices, would be the 14th.

Harris and Steyer have both been vocal critics of President Trump. Harris has ripped the president’s rhetoric and policies and is considered to be a possible presidential opponent to Trump in 2020, while Steyer has funded efforts to impeach him.

Other devices have been sent to Democratic donor George Soros, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Obama, former Attorney General Eric Holder, former CIA Director John Brennan at the CNN offices in New York, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), former Vice President Joe Biden, actor Robert De Niro, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, all of whom have been critical of and criticized by Trump.

“I think anyone who has in any way publicly been a critic of President Trump needs to be on extra alert and take precautions with respect to mail. At the same time we shouldn’t get too overblown about it, to overwrought about it … at this point. I have a lot of confidence in all the law enforcement elements involved in this,” Clapper said on CNN after the package addressed to him was discovered.

No explosive devices have gone off and no injuries have been reported involving the packages.

The packages have sparked a national conversation over the divisiveness of America’s current political rhetoric and a bipartisan call for both sides to ease tensions. Trump has condemned the suspected explosive devices and issued a call for unity on Wednesday. 

“We have to come together and send one very clear, strong, unmistakable message that acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United States of America,” Trump said at a White House event.

— Updated 5:20 p.m.