The undercurrent of rage that has been driving U.S. politics for the past few years surfaced on Wednesday in a series of apparent bombs sent to prominent U.S. Democrats and the news outlet CNN less than two weeks before congressional elections.
None of the devices went off and no injuries were reported, but a number of top Democrats were quick to label the threats a symptom of a coarsening brand of political rhetoric promoted by President Donald Trump, who also condemned the acts.
"For years now, Donald Trump has been calling for the jailing of his critics and has lauded violence against journalists," said U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, a New Jersey Democrat. "The danger of right-wing extremism cannot be ignored and more attention must be paid to it before even worse violence occurs."