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        Suffolk police respond to Lee Zeldin's Shirley home following bomb threat

        Photos obtained by News 12 show police activity in Shirley, where Zeldin lives.

        Associated Press and Jon Dowding

        Nov 27, 2024, 5:00 PM

        Updated 7 days ago

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        President-elect Donald Trump's transition team says several of his Cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats and “swatting attacks."
        Trump previously had named Lee Zeldin as his choice to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.
        “A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message," Zeldin said in a statement. "My family and I were not home at the time and are safe. We are working with law enforcement to learn more as this situation develops. We are thankful for the swift actions taken by local officers to keep our family, neighbors, and local community secure.”
        Suffolk Deputy Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina says it started with a concerning message they received around 9 a.m. Wednesday.
        "We received an email in the police department with a threat to Lee Zeldin's house,” he said. “We immediately sent our emergency services team out there."
        Neighbors said they woke up to police blocking off their street, not telling them what was going on at first.
        Linda Cusano, of Shirley, says she and her husband were planning on going to a doctor’s appointment later that day when police blocked off the street.
        "You wonder, first of all, what's going on," she said. "[Police] told us we couldn't get out. And then they told us if we did get out, they couldn't let us back."
        Sean Penn, who lives further up the block, says he saw a number of trucks, police and other vehicles flood Zeldin’s home.
        "The way they showed up, I thought it was an actual, you know, legit bomb in there,” he said. “I was like we should stay in the house."
        Police say they searched the home and found no device.
        "It was an attempt to disrupt the Thanksgiving holiday for the Zeldin family which is disgraceful," said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine.
        It's not the first time this community has seen a large police presence.
        Back in 2022, a man fired shots at rival gang members outside of Zeldin's home. He's now serving a 12-year prison sentence.
        Neighbors also say police flooded the block on Nov. 11 when Zeldin was first picked by President-elect Trump to lead the EPA.
        Neighbors, like Christian Vasquez, say a bomb threat just hits a little too close to home.
        "If there's a bomb threat local, close to my house, it's going to be something that you're going to worry about,” he said. “But a part of me feels like we have good local law enforcement."
        Suffolk police say investigators are working with the FBI to determine the origin of the threats.
        Police also said they will work with the former congressman to determine if there's a need for increased security at his home moving forward.
        The NYPD says a bomb threat was also made against a Manhattan property owned by Howard Lutnick, who is Trump's pick for commerce secretary.
        Rep. Elise Stefanik's office confirms her family's Saratoga County home was targeted.
        The Trump transition team said in a statement, "Law enforcement acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire transition team are grateful for their swift action."
        The FBI says it is aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting Trump Cabinet nominees and appointees. The agency said it is working with law enforcement and encouraged the public to report anything they consider suspicious.
        Gov. Kathy Hochul called the threats "unacceptable" and said state police are working with federal authorities.