Seminoles quickly dispel report that mail bomb suspect is member
Submitted | Broward County Sheriff's Office
Cesar Altieri Sayoc
WINDOW ROCK
The Seminole Tribe of Florida was quick to dispel news reports that mail bomb suspect Cesar Altieri Sayoc, 56, was an enrolled member on Friday.
Submitted | Broward County Sheriff’s Office
Cesar Altieri Sayoc
According to the tribe’s spokesperson, Gary Bitner, they found “no evidence” Sayoc “is or was a member or employee of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.”
The Native American Journalists Association corroborated the tribe’s statement and stated “some media outlets” reported Sayoc was a member of the tribe.
“We worked quickly to ID that he is not a member, and never has been, and has never been an employee,” Bitner said on Friday.
“Regardless of the circumstances surrounding a story, the Native American Journalists Association urges all media outlets to verify tribal citizenship before reporting someone is Indigenous,” NAJA said on Friday.
Christopher Wray with the FBI said at a news conference Sayoc was arrested in Florida for sending 13 suspected mail bombs.
The FBI found six inches of PVC pipe, a small clock, a battery, some wiring, and what is known as energetic material, which is essentially potential explosives, and material that give off heat and energy through a reaction to heat, shock, or friction, Wray said.
The devices were continuing to be analyzed, Wray added.
Sayoc’s fingerprint was found a package that was sent to U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters.
Along with Waters, Sayoc is suspected of sending 12 other packages to U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., former director of National Intelligence James Clapper, billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer, billionaire investor George Soros, former President Bill and Hillary Clinton, former President Barack Obama, former Attorney General Eric Holder, former CIA Director John Brennan, former Vice President Joe Biden, and actor Robert De Niro.
Sayoc was charged with interstate transportation of an explosive, illegal mailing of explosives, threats against former presidents and other persons, threatening interstate communications, and assaulting current and former federal officers.
If found guilty, he faces up to 48 years in prison.
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