Suspect in plot kept target hit list, source says
MIAMI — The man suspected of sending pipe bombs to prominent Democrats and other opponents of President Trump kept a list of elected officials and others who investigators believe were intended targets, an official told the Associated Press on Monday.
The disclosure came as 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc made his initial court appearance in Miami federal court and after bomb squads were called to a post office in Atlanta about a suspicious package sent to CNN.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said authorities had recovered soldering equipment, a printer, and stamps similar to those used on the package bombs in the investigation into Sayoc, who was arrested last week in Florida. Authorities believe Sayoc was assembling explosives in his van.
The FBI said via its Twitter account that the recovered package in Atlanta was “similar in appearance” to the bubble-wrapped manila envelopes authorities say were sent by Sayoc to intended targets from Delaware to California, including former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif.
CNN President Jeff Zucker says all mail to CNN has been screened offsite since last week, when a series of package bombs began appearing around the country. Among them were two apparent mail bombs sent to CNN.
At least some listed a return address of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former chair of the Democratic National Committee.
She represents the Florida district where the former male stripper, pizza driver and strip club D J lived in an older van covered with bumper stickers praising Trump, disparaging Democrats and CNN and showing rifle crosshairs over liberals like Clinton and filmmaker Michael Moore.
At Monday’s hearing, federal prosecutors said they will seek to keep Sayoc jailed until trial as a flight risk and a danger to the community. A judge set another hearing for Friday on whether to grant bail.
One of Sayoc’s attorneys, Daniel Aaronson, urged people not to rush to judgment based on media reports.
“Right now, we know very, very, very little,” Aaronson said of the case. “We do not know all the evidence the government has. You have to keep in mind he has not been found guilty of anything.”
Authorities say Sayoc faces more than 50 years in prison if convicted on all charges. None of the bombs exploded.