Most of Connecticut’s congressional delegation said bomb threats were made at their homes on Thursday as they prepared to celebrate Thanksgiving, although no bombs were ultimately found.
Democratic Reps. Jim Himes, Jahana Hayes, Joe Courtney and John Larson announced in written statements that they had been targeted. The office of Senator Chris Murphy, also a Democrat, confirmed to NBC News that he was also a target. CBS’ local affiliate reported earlier Thursday that Murphy received the threat.
“On Thanksgiving, Senator Murphy’s home in Hartford was the target of a bomb threat, which appears to be part of a coordinated effort involving multiple members of Congress and public figures,” a spokesperson for the senator said in a statement.
Larson also alluded to the threats against his colleagues, saying in a statement that he was “grateful that my colleagues in Connecticut’s Congressional delegation, who received similar threats, are also safe.”
Hayes said in a post to Local and state police who responded to the threat found no bombs or “explosive materials,” Hayes said.
“At this time the investigation is ongoing,” Hayes continued. “I thank law enforcement authorities for their prompt attention to this case. Their actions demonstrate that there is no place for political violence in our country.”
Similarly, Himes said in a statement on
“There is no place for political violence in this country, and I hope we can all continue the holidays in peace and civility,” Himes said in a statement, also expressing gratitude for law enforcement.
Courtney’s spokesperson said in a statement that the congressman and his wife Audrey Courtney “extend their deepest gratitude to law enforcement officials, whose response should signal to perpetrators that these types of threats will not be tolerated.”
Neither the U.S. Capitol Police nor the FBI immediately responded to NBC News’ request for comment. Connecticut State Police deferred a request for more information about the incidents to local police departments who were “the primary investigators of any threat.”
Vernon police, who responded to the threat against Courtney, said in a statement that “the incident remains under investigation and no charges have been filed at this time.”
Wolcott Police Department Chief Edward Stephens, who responded to the threat against Hayes, told NBC News that no suspect has yet been identified, but the department is working to trace the email used to send the threat . Stephens said his department is coordinating with state police and other agencies.
Other local police departments that responded to the incidents did not immediately respond to NBC News’ requests for comment.
The Capitol Police said in January that it had investigated more than 8,000 incidents last year in which members of Congress were threatened, including “concerning statements and direct threats.”
That number was an increase from the previous year, when the agency investigated more than 7,500 threats. The final statistics for 2024 are not yet available.
The latest threats against lawmakers come after several of newly elected President Donald Trump’s scheduled administration officials were targeted with bomb and “swatting” threats on Tuesday and Wednesday.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
