Police have arrested 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc in connection with 13 explosive devices[1] sent to prominent Democrats and CNN this week. Attorney General Jeff Sessions confirmed the arrest during a press conference on Friday, while FBI director Christopher Wray[2] detailed how law enforcement officers tracked him down so quickly.
Sayoc was arrested Friday outside an AutoZone in Plantation, Florida. Law enforcement officials also discovered a white van belonging to the suspect, which, according to photos and videos from the scene, was covered in pro-Trump stickers, as well as other decals that appear to depict crosshairs over the faces of several figures who were sent explosive devices, including former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and former president Barack Obama. One decal read "CNN Sucks." CNN, Clinton, Obama, and the other mail bomb targets have been widely vilified by right-wing media, as well as by President Trump. Police towed the van, covered in a blue tarp, away from the AutoZone for investigation.
Sayoc faces five charges, according to the Department of Justice complaint: interstate transportation of an explosive, illegal mailing of explosives, threats against former presidents and certain other persons, threatening interstate communications, and assaulting federal officers. If found guilty on all counts, Sessions said, Sayoc would face up to 48 years in prison1. You can read the complaint in its entirety below.
"Today's arrest doesn't mean we are out of the woods."
FBI Director Christopher Wray
While the first device was discovered Monday at the home of philanthropist George Soros, forensic analysis didn’t begin on the packages and the devices themselves until several days later, Wray said in the press conference, as the evidence slowly made its way to the FBI’s forensics labs on total containment vessels, specialized vehicles designed to transport explosive