All 41 members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee signed onto a bipartisan statement condemning the sending of explosive devices this week to prominent Democrats, media outlets and former government officials.
“In light of the terrorist acts of the last 48 hours, we are issuing this united statement to condemn in the strongest terms any actions that threaten to commit violence against the people of the United States, including current or former elected officials, members of the media, individual Americans, or anyone else — regardless of their political background or position,” the committee said.
{mosads}“Just as importantly, we strongly condemn any rhetoric by current or former elected officials, members of the media, individual Americans, or anyone else that condones, excuses, or encourages such violence. As Americans, we believe that when our nation comes under attack, we are strongest when we stand together,” it added.
The joint statement came after the 11th and 12th devices this week were intercepted after being addressed to Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. The packages were discovered at a mailing center in Florida and Manhattan, respectively.
Other devices have been sent to Democratic donor George Soros, former presidential nominee 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 Biden and actor Robert De Niro.
“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 yet 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.
But on Friday morning, the president lamented that the media coverage of the devices was eclipsing the midterm elections, using the news to encourage Republicans to get out and vote.
Critics of the administration have pointed to the president as a source of divisive rhetoric.
“As far as the president’s concerned, and again this is purely a fantasy because he’s already made it clear he’s not going to do this and I’m not suggesting a clear cause and effect relationship…but I do think he bears some responsibility of the coarseness and uncivility in the dialogue in this country and he needs to remember that his words count, his voice is the most important in this country,” Clapper said.