October 26, 2018 Law enforcement officials arrested a man suspected in the suspicious mail bombings targeting prominent Democrats and vocal critics of President Trump outside of Miami, Florida on Friday morning.
Authorities say the suspect, Cesar Sayoc, Jr. 56, has an extensive criminal record including a 2002 bomb threat. Officials in Plantation, Florida, were seen placing a tarp over a van with windows covered with pictures of Trump and decals, one of which appeared to be a version of a presidential seal. An image on the explosive device sent to former CIA Director John Brennan on Tuesday appears to be a parody of an ISIS flag taken from a meme that has been circulating on right-wing corners of the internet since 2014.
Social media accounts appearing to belong to Sayoc reveal he is a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump seen wearing a pro Trump“Make America Great Again” hat and attending Trump campaign rallies . Sayoc also used Twitter and Facebook accounts to criticize Democrats and the media. On a LinkedIn account, Sayoc claimed to be a “promoter, booking agent Live entertainment, owner, and choreographer.
Some top Democrats called the attempted attacks a symptom of a coarsening brand of political rhetoric promoted by President Donald Trump. Trump condemned the threats on Wednesday afternoon calling for the country to unify. However, Trump has repeatedly blamed the media in Twitter rants since then.
After Friday morning’s bombs were discovered, Trump tweeted:
“Republicans are doing so well in early voting, and at the polls, and now this ‘Bomb’ stuff happens and the momentum greatly slows – news not talking politics. Very unfortunate, what is going on. Republicans, go out and vote!.”