Joe Skipper/Reuters
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Friday that mail-bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc, Jr., faces five federal charges and up to 48 years in prison in connection to 13 improvised explosive devices that were sent to Trump critics across the country. Sessions announced the charges included interstate transportation of explosives, illegal mailing of an explosive, threats against former presidents and other figures, threats against interstate communications, and assaulting federal officers. FBI Director Christopher Wray said a fingerprint on a device addressed to Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) belonged to Sayoc, and that there may be a DNA connection on other packages. Wray also said that the devices contained a clock, battery, wiring, and “energetic material.” “Though we’re still analyzing the devices in our laboratory, these are not hoax devices,” Wray added. The FBI director said there may be other packages in transit.
When asked why Sayoc was targeting Democrats, Sessions replied: “I don’t know.” “He appears to be a partisan,” the attorney general added. Sayoc was arrested earlier Friday in Florida and identified as a suspect in the mail-bombing case.