Mass. Rep. Lori Trahan says she was targeted by a bomb threat

In Top headlines
December 07, 2024
Mass. Rep. Lori Trahan says she was targeted by a bomb threat



Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Mass., said Saturday that she and her family had been targeted by a bomb threat and that local police are working with the U.S. Capitol Police to investigate the incident.

“This morning, I was made aware of a bomb threat targeting my family and me. I am grateful to the excellent officers at the Westford Police Department who responded swiftly to make sure we were safe and who are now working with the United States Capitol Police and Massachusetts State Police regarding this incident,” Trahan said in a statement.

“It’s a good time to say the obvious: threats of violence and intimidation have no place in our country,” Trahan added.

Westford Police Department Capt. Michael Breault said the department was made aware of the threat via email Saturday morning, at which point they responded to Trahan’s home and notified the Capitol Police and the Massachusetts State Police.

Breault said the state police’s bomb squad did not find a device and cleared the residence for safety. He added that there appears to be no threat to public safety at this time.

A Massachusetts State Police spokesperson said a preliminary investigation of the threat determined that it “appears to be one of several unfounded threats against political figures across the country.”

The Capitol Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The threat against Trahan comes a week after several members of Congress and some of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks were targeted with bomb threats and swatting incidents.

At least seven Democratic lawmakers from New England were notified of bomb threats targeting their homes as they prepared to celebrate Thanksgiving last week, though no bombs were ultimately found. Among them was another Massachusetts Democrat, Rep. Seth Moulton.

The Capitol Police, charged with protecting members of Congress, said in January the department has investigated more than 8,000 cases involving threats against lawmakers, an increase from 7,500 investigated threats the year before. The final statistics for 2024 have not been released.