A Philadelphia resident has been apprehended following a bomb threat laden with obscenities directed at the Montgomery County GOP office in Pennsylvania.
The incident, which took place earlier this week, has sparked a wave of concern among local Republicans.
According to The Post Millennial, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Whitpain Township Police Chief Kenneth Lawson confirmed the arrest of Edward Cieri Jr., 39, in a joint statement. The statement revealed, "Cieri was arrested and charged with Threatening to Place Weapons of Mass Destruction, two counts of Terroristic Threats and Harassment." The accused was presented before Magisterial District Judge Maureen Coggins, who set bail at $35,000 unsecured, with additional conditions of no contact with the victim, stay away from all Republican Committee offices and no possession of firearms. A preliminary hearing is slated for 10 a.m., Nov. 14, 2024, before Magisterial District Judge Suzan Leonard.
The threat, which led to an evacuation, was reported by the Philly Inquirer as being "pretty profanity-laced." Christian Nascimento, chair of the Montgomery County GOP, recounted the chilling words of the caller, "Im gonna blow that place up... Im going to be waiting to shoot you when you leave tonight."
The target of the threat was a staffer working for former President Donald Trumps campaign, who was alone in the office space shared with the county party when he received the call shortly after 11 a.m. Saturday. Nascimento added, "After the two assassination attempts on the former president, his campaign had everyone work virtually."
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