N.Y. trial set for pipe-bomb suspect

MIAMI — The man accused of sending more than a dozen possible pipe bombs to Democrats and critics of the president across the country will remain in custody while he is transferred to New York.

Cesar Sayoc appeared in federal court Friday, just a few hours before the FBI confirmed it had recovered in California another suspicious package addressed to major Democratic donor Tom Steyer, who has aired TV ads calling for President Donald Trump’s impeachment. If tied to Sayoc, it would mark the 16th package authorities believe he sent.

Three have been recovered since Sayoc was taken into custody, though authorities have warned more could be making their way through the mail system.

Sayoc agreed he would not contest his move to New York, where federal prosecutors charged him last week with sending possible pipe bombs to such prominent figures as former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Attorney General Eric Holder and actor Robert De Niro.

None of the packages have exploded and no one was injured.

The hearing marked the second appearance in federal court for Sayoc, 56, a strip club worker and ardent Trump supporter who had been living out of his van in Aventura, Fla. It was held in Miami because Sayoc was arrested in Florida.

A precise date has not been set for his appearance in federal court in New York. James Benjamin, one of the attorneys, said Sayoc is being held in the isolation unit of the federal detention center.

Daniel Aaronson, another of Sayoc’s attorneys, said the evidence against Sayoc was “flimsy.” Benjamin noted particularly that federal authorities have said they have a “possible” DNA match.

“That’s a word that doesn’t make it in a court of law,” Benjamin said. “They have to come up with evidence.”

Other evidence includes online searches Sayoc did on his laptop and cellphone for addresses and photos of intended targets.

The laptop also has a file with the address in Sunrise, Fla., of the office of U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz was used as the return address on the packages, according to the FBI.