Pipe bomb suspect agrees to transfer

MIAMI — The suspect accused of sending pipe bombs to prominent critics of President Donald Trump agreed Friday to be transferred to New York to face charges, while the FBI said an additional package was found addressed to Democratic billionaire donor Tom Steyer.

Attorneys for Cesar Sayoc said Friday in Miami federal court that it’s better if his lawyers in New York can take the case as soon as possible. They could still seek a bail hearing there, but prosecutors say he should remain jailed given the magnitude of the charges and the strong evidence against him.

“We wanted to make sure that all of his constitutional rights were preserved,” said attorney James Benjamin after the hearing. “We feel we’ve done all we can.”

Sayoc has been accused of sending 15 improvised explosive devices to numerous Democrats, Trump critics and media outlets.

The FBI said Friday an additional package similar to the earlier ones was recovered at a postal facility near San Francisco. The package discovered late Thursday was the second addressed to Steyer, who has done TV ads calling for Trump’s impeachment. None of the packages have exploded and no one was injured.

The timing of Sayoc’s transfer is uncertain. It can happen quickly or take weeks, and is not usually announced ahead of time by the U.S. Marshals Service, Benjamin said. Even defence lawyers are not informed.