Pipe bomb suspect in custody

Cesar Sayoc of Aventura, Fla., was formally read the five federal charges that would send him to prison for up to 48 years for his alleged involvement in sending 14 pipe bombs to prominent Democrats.

Sayoc made his first court appearance in Miami Federal Court on Monday, Oct. 29 after being arrested on Friday, Oct. 26. Sayoc, a registered Republican and outspoken Trump supporter, targeted multiple Democratic Public Figures including President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden by mailing packages of bombs to their homes and places of work.  

CNN was among many of the intended targets, intercepting two bombs directed to their headquarters in Atlanta. When a suspicious package that resembled other pipe bombs appeared, CNN employees were told to evacuate immediately. X-rays of the package showed a pipe with multiple wires coming out. CNN President Jeff Zucker said all mail is now being screened offsite.

According to an Oct. 29 Associated Press article, the packages listed U.S. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former chair of the Democratic Committee, as the return address. She represents the South Florida district where Sayoc currently lives.

FBI Director Christopher Wray condemned the attacks and said a fingerprint on one of the packages that matched Sayoc’s was discovered. He clarified that the suspected bombs were not a hoax.