Cesar Sayoc arrest: Florida suspect faces 48 years in prison over pipe bombs targeting Trump critics
A dozen explosive devices and suspicious packages intercepted by authorities in last few days
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.On Friday, United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions said that Cesar Sayoc Jr, the suspect connected to the mailing of more than a dozen parcel bombs and suspicious packages to senior Democrats and prominent critics of Donald Trump, had been charged with five federal crimes.
The federal felony charges include interstate transportation of explosives, illegal mailing of explosives and threats against a former president among others. In a press conference, Mr Sessions said Mr Sayoc faced up to 58 years in prison if found guilty.
“We will not tolerate such lawlessness, especially political violence,” he said.
Several moments later, however, the Justice Department said Mr Sessions had inaccurate information about the alleged bomber’s prison time. Mr Sayoc faces 48 years in prison, not 58.
When asked if there are other suspects, FBI Director Christopher Wray said the investigation is active and ongoing. Officials believe there may be other explosive devices in the mail system.
The federal authorities were able to find Mr Sayoc after finding a fingerprint on one of the envelopes sent to California Congresswoman Maxine Waters, which has been confirmed to belong to him, Wray said. Investigators also believe there is DNA on other packages Mr Sayoc sent.
The authorities also seized Mr Sayoc’s white van. The vehicle was covered in stickers featuring Mr Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, anti-gay symbols, Ku Klux Klan paraphernalia, and a lynching of a black person. One of the stickers read “CNN sucks,” echoing a chant often said in Mr Trump’s rallies.
The prosecutor for Mr Sayoc's case is US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman.
“This is an ongoing and active investigation. We will not rest until these crimes are fully investigated,” Mr Berman said.
Mr Sessions said the mail bomb suspect appears to be partisan, but said he does not know why Democratic political figures were targeted.
Two weeks prior to sending pipe bombs, Mr Sayoc harassed and threatened Democratic strategist Rochelle Ritchie. Ms Ritchie reported him to Twitter. The social media site responded by saying that Mr Sayoc did not commit any violations.
Mr Sayoc’s Facebook page, listed under the name Cesar Altieri Randazzo, is filled with right-wing propaganda. He appeared to have shared posts and articles from right-wing pages, Breitbart and Fox News. One of the posts Mr Sayoc shares is from a Facebook page called “Handcuffs for Hillary.”
A Facebook spokesperson said it removed multiple posts from Mr Sayoc’s account for violating its community standards. Some of the removals were the result of Facebook users reporting Mr Sayoc’s posts for violations. Others were identified by Facebook through its detection systems.
The violations, however, were not severe enough for the company to remove the account.
If you want to see how the day progressed, follow the live blog below
Mr Trump just finished a briefing with the US Department and praised the "FBI...and all law enforcement throughout the entire country".
"They worked so hard...and done it so quickly, it's like a needle in a haystack," the president said.
"We must show the world we are united together...there is no country like our country. Every day we are showing the country just how truly great we are".
He sneaks in a quiet "thank you" to the media and said "congratulations to all law enforcement" for the capture of the suspect, who is now arriving at a FBI facility in Florida.
Several of the packages were addressed from Florida, specifically House Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz - though her name had been spelled incorrectly on the return address labels.
Mr Trump said these "despicable acts" have no place in the US, but critics have panned the president for not addressing his own negative rhetoric - particularly at recent political rallies - and it's possible role in these attacks.
On Wednesday evening, just hours after the Secret Service intercepted an explosive device package sent to Hillary Clinton, the president chanted "lock her up" at rally in Wisconsin.
This morning he once again hit out at CNN:
"I can do the greatest things for our country and on the networks...it will show badly," Mr Trump just said, continuing his criticism of the media as there were a few "fake news" shouts from the crowd.
Fifty-six-year-old Mr Sayoc was arrested at the car parts shop Autozone in Plantation, Florida.
A van spotted outside of the store, before being taken away by federal investigators. It was adorned with several stickers of Republican politicians in support of Mr Trump and one that says "CNN sucks,"
To recap: the 11th and 12th suspicious packages were sent this morning to Democrat Senator Cory Booker and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, found in Miami, Florida, and near the CNN offices in New York, respectively.
Within hours, Mr Sayoc was arrested in Florida.
Read more about what happened this morning here:
Mr Sayoc's Twitter account appears to be mostly pro-Trump content, including what looks like a video of him chanting the president's name at an indoor rally.
Security has been heightened at federal facilities around the country in the wake of the suspicious packages, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said Friday at a news conference in Calexico, California.
Officials are investigating a suspicious package intercepted in Burlingame, California, that was addressed to billionaire and Democratic donor Tom Steyer, according to CNN.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments