Suspicious packages addressed to actor Robert De Niro and former Vice President Joe Biden were intercepted Thursday, the Associated Press reports. Investigators said they were similar to crude pipe bombs sent to former President Obama, Hillary Clinton and CNN. None of the devices exploded, but the packages, sent to prominent Democrats critical of President Trump, underscored the heightened political tensions and fears two weeks before national midterm elections. Police said package was recovered in Manhattan addressed to De Niro, who dropped an expletive insult at Trump at this year’s Tony Awards. De Niro had apologized to Canadians for the “idiotic behavior of my president.”
Biden criticized Trump as recently as last week, saying Trump may not “know what he’s doing” and coddles dictators. The package addressed to Biden was intercepted at a Delaware mail facility. Suspicious packages have been seized in New York, Washington, D.C., Florida and California. On Wednesday night, the FBI said investigators found two packages addressed to Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) that are similar to the other five. Trump still assails Clinton at rallies while supporters chant “lock her up.” He singles out CNN and other news media whose reporting he does not like, terming them “fake news.” On Thursday, Trump again blamed the media for the “anger” in society. “A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News,” he said in a Tweet. Earlier, he took a softer tone at a rally in Wisconsin. “Let’s get along,” he said. “By the way, do you see how nice I’m behaving tonight?” The bombs seized Wednesday, each with a small battery, were about six inches long and packed with powder and broken glass, said a law enforcement official who viewed X-ray images.