Cesar Sayoc, a 56-year-old man from Aventura, Florida, has been arrested in connection with the series of suspicious packages that were mailed to high-profile Democratic figures.
Cesar Altier Sayoc, a die-hard Donald Trump supporter, is a registered Republican and often posted on social media about politics and the potential red wave in the upcoming midterm elections.
Sayoc, who goes by Cesar Altieri Randazzo, also shared pictures of his van covered in Trump and Republican-oriented stickers.
The bodybuilder attended several Trump rallies wearing a bright red MAGA hat and praised Rick Scott in a post that read: “The greatest Governor in Country Fla Rick Scott and great friend of We Unconquered Seminole Tribe. Trump Trump Trump.”
Sayoc, who has been dubbed the MAGAbomber on social media, sent pipe bombs to a dozen outspoken critics of Trump including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, George Soros, Robert De Niro, John Brennan, James Clapper, and Cory Booker.
Sayoc also mailed a suspicious package to former Attorney General Eric Holder, but it failed to reach its destination.
The man has also been suspected of sending pipe bombs to CNN’s headquarters in New York City. Authorities arrested Sayoc on October 26 in Plantation, Florida.
Who is mail bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc? https://t.co/4L4jNRY85b pic.twitter.com/0IuuhIMTll
— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) October 26, 2018
Trump had the following to say after the arrest was announced: “I am so pleased to inform you that law enforcement has apprehended the suspect and taken him into custody. This is an incredible job by law enforcement. We’ve carried out a far-reaching federal, state and local investigation… these terrorizing acts are very despicable and have no place whatsoever in our great country. I’ve instructed the authorities to spare no resource or expense…we will prosecute them, him, her, whoever it may be to the fullest extent of the law. We must never, never allow political violence to take root in America, and I’m committed to doing everything in my power as president to stop it, and to stop it right now.”
Suspect in mail bombs identified as Cesar Sayoc, 56, of Aventura https://t.co/W7CXjmT2Hv https://t.co/4jaRU4Ojw9 pic.twitter.com/SxNqPKJWPp
— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) October 26, 2018
Via Twitter, Trump had lamented before the arrest that the bomb threats were hurting Republicans in the polls.
Trump said: “Republicans are doing so well in early voting, and at the polls, and now this “Bomb” stuff happens and the momentum greatly slows – news not talking politics. Very unfortunate, what is going on. Republicans, go out and vote!”
Some media personalities thought all of this was a hoax.
