Even as President Donald Trump continues to take to Twitter to denounce the media, the threats to America's journalists continue unabated — most recently with a third suspicious package being sent to a CNN headquarters.
A package was intercepted in Atlanta on Monday morning before it could reach CNN's worldwide headquarters there, according to CNN. In a memo to staffers, CNN President Jeff Zucker explained that the package "was intercepted at an Atlanta post office" and that "there is no imminent danger to the CNN Center." After a Wednesday package sent to a CNN center in New York City (the Time Warner Center) was intercepted, Zucker explained that all packages sent to the news agency are being screened at off-site facilities to ensure the safety of the company's employees.
"All mail, at all CNN domestic bureaus, is being screened at off-site facilities as of last Wednesday, so this package would NOT have come directly to the CNN Center, even if it hadn't been intercepted first. Our screening process is working and we will keep you updated as we learn more," Zucker wrote in the memo.
This is the third threatening package to have been sent to a CNN headquarters, with the other packages containing pipe bombs and believed to have been transmitted by mail by a man named Cesar Sayoc. It is unclear whether Sayoc was also responsible for this latest package: The other targets who authorities believe were singled out by Sayoc include two former presidents, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former US Attorney General Eric Holder, Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California and Rep. Maxine Waters, also of California.
Despite the growing threat to prominent liberals, particularly in the media, posed by these packages, Trump has not scaled back his incendiary anti-media rhetoric.
"There is great anger in our Country caused in part by inaccurate, and even fraudulent, reporting of the news. The Fake News Media, the true Enemy of the People, must stop the open & obvious hostility & report the news accurately & fairly. That will do much to put out the flame..." Trump tweeted on Monday.
He added, "....of Anger and Outrage and we will then be able to bring all sides together in Peace and Harmony. Fake News Must End!"
A number of prominent conservatives took to Twitter to denounce Trump's latest tweets.
Sayoc is expected to appear in federal court on Monday to receive formal charges, according to CNN. A bodybuilder, male dancer and pizza delivery driver, Sayoc was explicit online about his political views, registering to vote as a Republican in 2016 and appearing at a Trump rally in a "Make America Great Again" hat in a Facebook video. His social media accounts also show that he strongly bought into right-wing conspiracy theories, and as recently as September he tweeted a threat to Biden and Holder which declared, "Go Trump Trump Trump hey Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. And Eric Himpton Holder Sr. Stick your BS all crap you talk where sun doesn't shine . We will meet your threats right to your face soon.Not option we will see you soon .Hug loved ones real close we aren't ones."
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