Cesar Sayoc allegedly threatened Beto O'Rourke in April: Report

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Friday, November 2, 2018
Cesar Sayoc allegedly threatened Beto O'Rourke
Cesar Sayoc allegedly threatened Rep. Beto O'Rourke in April, according to a report.

EL PASO, Texas -- The man suspected of sending 14 pipe bombs to prominent critics of President Trump threatened Rep. Beto O'Rourke, Texas Democrat, in April, according to a report Wednesday.

In April, Mr. O'Rourke's campaign told U.S. Capitol Police and the FBI of a threat made against the lawmaker by Cesar Sayoc Jr., the Dallas News reported. Mr. O'Rouke is currently locked in a tight Senate race with Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.

The threat was reportedly made on Facebook with Mr. Sayoc allegedly including photos of Mr. O'Rourke's wife and children in the post.

"Hug your loved ones everytime (sic) you leave home," Sayoc wrote, according to the Dallas News. "See you soon."

A spokesman for Mr. O'Rourke's campaign told the paper that FBI agents have looked through the candidate's mail in recent days.

Chris Evans, a campaign spokesperson, said it is not known if Mr. O'Rourke was on a list of roughly a 100 people that Sayoc intended to target. The list has not been released publicly.

RELATED: Official: Pipe-bomb suspect had hit list of targets

"No one said 'you are on a list' but there was immediately a presence including agents and dogs who were at the office even as recent as today," Evans told the paper.

Mr. Sayoc, an ardent supporter of the president, was arrested last week. Authorities say he sent pipe bombs to Democratic leaders, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Obama.

SEE ALSO: Cesar Sayoc: What we know about pipe bomb suspect arrested in Florida