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Already criticized for his derogatory remarks about the fourth president, President Donald Trump told his supporters on Wednesday that the media was partly responsible for the divisions in the company that came to light this week with a series of attempts to crack down. attacks targeting prominent Democrats and Manhattan. CNN information network office.
Law enforcement officials intercepted explosive devices for homes and journalists' offices, a billionaire philanthropist, two former presidents and a practicing representative of what has been described as "deed" terrorist "by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. Nobody was hurt by the series of alarming incidents committed two weeks before the midterm elections.
At a press conference at the White House, Trump told reporters that "threats and political violence do not have their place in the United States of America," calling for "l & rsquo; # 39; unity. " But a few hours later, the president spoke at a rally in Mosinee, Wisconsin. , where he blamed partisanship and the press for a fractured society. "The media also has a responsibility to give a civil tone and end the endless hostility and the always negative and often false attacks and narrations," Trump told an enthusiastic crowd.
CNN chief Jeff Zucker weighed in on Wednesday night, denouncing Trump and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House press secretary. The Trump administration has often sought to undermine the press by calling the media "false news", distinguishing critical journalists, and accusing leading news outlets of lying.
"The president, and in particular the White House press officer, must understand that their words matter," said Zucker, president of CNN Worldwide. "Until now, they have shown no understanding of that."
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Barack Obama, former DNC president Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and California representative Maxine Waters were among the people to whom suspicious packages had been sent. Another, addressed to former CIA director John Brennan, was sent to CNN's office. Brennan is a Trump critic whose security clearance was revoked by the president in August. The package sent to Wasserman Schultz had his address on the return label, but it was addressed to the former Attorney General of the Obama administration, Eric Holder, the Associated Press reported. .
The chief of intelligence services of the New York City police said at a press conference Wednesday that the package sent to CNN "seemed linked" to those sent to Obama, Clinton and George Soros, in the whose authorities said they found a bomb this week. Authorities said the package "appeared to be a real explosive device" and also contained a white powder that is still under investigation.
Although the reason for the packages and the identity of the officials are not yet known, the recipients are well-known Democrats, many of whom have criticized the Trump administration and a media frequently targeted by Trump's anger. at rallies and on Twitter.
Here's what you need to know about the suspicious packages sent to politicians and CNN on Wednesday:
Senior Democrats and CNN Chief Demand Stronger White House Reprimand
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer issued a joint statement Wednesday afternoon calling on President Trump to reverse "his statements condoning acts of violence."
"Once again, we salute the heroism of the first US responders who are fighting against the bomb attacks against the post office.
"We listened with keen interest to the President's remarks this afternoon. We all take the oath to support and defend the Constitution and protect the American people, and that is our primary responsibility.
"However, President Trump's words sound hollow until he comes back on his statements that condone the acts of violence.
"Time and time again, the president has tolerated physical violence and divided Americans by his words and actions: expressing his support for the congressman who murdered a journalist, the neo-Nazis who killed a young woman in Charlottesville, her supporters at rallies being raped by protesters, dictators around the world who murder their own citizens and who regard the free press as the enemy of the people ".
CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker went further in his remarks on the administration.
"At the White House, understanding the seriousness of the pursuit of their attacks on the media is completely incomprehensible. The president, and in particular the White House press secretary, should understand that their words matter. Until then, they have not shown any understanding of this. "
At an event on Wednesday night, Brennan also rebuked Trump for abusing him, criticizing "Donald Trump's persistent inability to live up to what we should all be to." that an American president should do ".
"Unfortunately, I think Donald Trump has too often helped to elicit some of these feelings of anger, even violence, when he was pointing out acts of violence or was also speaking, you know, of hitting someone out of the press, "Brennan. "If I and others are being targeted because we are expressing ourselves and assuming our responsibilities as citizens, I think that, again, the situation is very unfortunate."
Packages sent to Obama and Clinton
US intelligence has intercepted a suspicious package sent to Hillary Clinton and sent to the Clinton home in Chappaqua, New York, on Tuesday night. Secret services also intercepted a package sent to Barack Obama Wednesday morning in Washington, DC.
The packages were immediately identified during routine mail sorting as potentially explosive devices. There was no risk that Clinton or Obama would receive the parcels, the Secret Service said in a statement.
Police officers stand in front of a property owned by Hillary and Bill Clinton in Chappaqua, N.Y., October 24, 2018.
Seth Wenig – AP / REX / Shutterstock
Officials said that a "large-scale criminal investigation" was underway and that federal, state and local resources would be used to determine the source of the packages. The packages were sent to politicians just two days after a bomb was found in the mailbox of the home of liberal philanthropist George Soros in Bedford, NY.
At an event in Florida, Clinton told the crowd, "We're fine, thanks to the men and women secret service." She added, "But this is a troubling time, is not it?"
CNN evacuated as authorities respond to suspicious package
Shortly after the announcement of the intercepted packages sent to Clinton and Obama, CNN offices in New York were evacuated due to a suspicious device in the newsroom, confirmed NYPD. Employees were allowed to return to the building later in the afternoon.
"The NYPD has completed its security sweep and is now safe to return to the building. I appreciate your patience because I know this has been a long day for you all, "said Zucker in a memo addressed to employees.
Officials told TIME that the package found in CNN's mailroom appeared to be a homemade bomb. New York City Police Commissioner James O'Neill confirmed that a demining team had removed the explosive device and that an envelope containing white powder had also been removed from the press room. .
The police are working on the scene after the discovery of an explosive device at CNN offices in New York on October 24, 2018.
LANE JUSTIN – EPA-EFE / REX / Shutterstock
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio described the incident as "a terrorist act aimed at undermining our free press and the leaders of this county by acts of violence."
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters that he was also a recipient of a suspicious package. "A device has been sent to my office in Manhattan, which we have just been informed of," he said. NYPD later confirmed that the package was not a bomb and that it had no connection with other devices.
The office of former DNC president Debbie Wasserman Schultz was evacuated
The Sunrise Police Department confirmed that the office of former Florida DNC representative, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, in Florida, was evacuated on Wednesday morning after the interception of a suspicious package.
The Aventura Police Department confirmed that it was investigating a suspicious package delivered to a government center where Wasserman Schultz had a second office.
"We will not be intimidated by this attempt at violence," she said Wednesday in a statement. "This appalling attack on our democracy must be vigorously pursued and I am deeply troubled by the way my name has been used."
Senator Kamala Harris San Diego Field Office evacuated
The San Diego Police has confirmed that they are investigate a suspicious package found outside the offices of the Union Tribune newspapers. Police said they evacuated the side facing the building. Officials can not yet confirm whether this package is related to suspicious packages found in New York, Washington and Florida.
Kamala Harris 'director of communications confirmed that Harris' offices had been evacuated but said the package in question was not sent to the senator.
Suspicious package addressed to the representative Maxine Waters intercepted
The FBI confirms that two suspicious packages sent to California, Rep. Maxine Waters, were intercepted and that they were similar to five others, also sent to Democratic targets, according to AP.
Capitol Hill police intercepted a suspicious package Wednesday morning at the Waters office. Waters thanked the security forces for their efforts and said that she "unequivocally condemned all acts of violence and terror".
"The US Capitol Police informed me that my office in Washington, DC, was the target of a suspicious package sent back to the FBI," she said in a statement. "I am grateful to the security forces who intercepted the package and are investigating this case."
White House condemns "cowards" behind suspicious parcels
"The federal government is conducting an aggressive investigation and we will find those responsible, and we will bring them to justice, very quickly if all goes well," Trump said during a protest in Wisconsin on Wednesday night. "Any act or threat of political violence is an attack on our democracy itself. No nation can succeed that tolerates violence or the threat of violence as a method of intimidation, coercion or political control. Such conduct must be fiercely opposed and firmly pursued. "
Earlier in the day, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House press secretary, issued a statement condemning the "cowards" behind the parcels.
"We condemn the recent attempts at violent attacks against President Obama, Secretary Clinton, Clinton, and other public figures," Sanders said. "These acts of terrorism are despicable and all those responsible will be held responsible to the fullest extent permitted by law. United States secret services and other law enforcement agencies are investigating and taking all appropriate measures to protect those at risk from such cowards. "
Vice President Mike Pence and Ivanka Trump have also condemned the attempts to attack.
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