Police have arrested and charged a Florida man in connection with a number of explosive devices that were sent to several prominent figures in United States politics and the media, including two former presidents.
NBC News reported on Friday that 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc Jr. has been arrested after allegedly mailing rudimentary pipe bombs to former president Barack Obama, former president Bill Clinton, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, the Time Warner Center (where CNN is located), CIA director John Brennan as well as billionaire investor and major Democratic donor George Soros. Several other similar explosive devices were sent to other political figures in the U.S. as well.
No one was hurt by the explosives, but the bombs were real, the FBI said.
Sayoc is now facing five federal charges -- interstate transport of explosives, mailing of explosives, threats against a former president, making threatening interstate communications and assault of current or former officials. He could face up 48 years in prison if convicted, according to law enforcement officials.
Law enforcement said DNA evidence played a role in Sayoc's arrest.
The 56-year-old has a past criminal record in Florida for making a bomb threat in 2002, according to court records. He is also a registered Republican and appeared to attend a Donald Trump rally in West Palm Beach, Florida in 2016. His Facebook page and Twitter accounts contained several posts in support of President Trump.
