Bomb Threats Made Against Election Offices in Maryland and California
Threats Made Against Maryland Boards of Elections
Bomb threats were made against several Maryland boards of elections and election offices on Friday, state authorities said, adding that everyone was safe and law enforcement officials were investigating. Election officials were counting mail-in ballots when the threats came in Maryland. State Administrator of Elections Jared DeMarinis said the threats led to the evacuation of some buildings. He called the threats “cowardly,” adding that local officials will resume counting on Saturday.
“‘Safety is a top concern – but we WILL resume canvassing (counting) tomorrow. Cowardly threats whether from abroad or not shall not deter us,’ DeMarinis said on social media platform X. ‘The Baltimore County Police Department is aware and currently investigating the bomb threat received via email by the Baltimore County Board of Elections Office,’ police posted on X, later adding that a probe determined that threat to be unfounded.”
Threats Made Against California Election Offices
In California’s Orange County, the registrar of voters received a bomb threat at an office in Santa Ana after which the office building was evacuated and bomb detection dogs were used to conduct a search. No explosives were located, officials said, adding normal operations will resume on Saturday. The registrar of voters in California’s Riverside County said its central counting building was also evacuated due to a threat and a bomb squad found no explosives.
Government Officials Monitoring the Situation
The offices of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Maryland Governor Wes Moore said they were monitoring the situation and working with local officials. The FBI is also investigating the threats, which appear to be hoax bomb threats similar to those made on election day.
Prior Incidents of Bomb Threats
This is not the first time bomb threats have been made against election offices in the United States. Ahead of the elections, officials had braced for threats arising from misinformation and conspiracy theories about the vote. The FBI said that hoax bomb threats, many of which appeared to originate from Russian email domains, were directed on Tuesday at polling locations in five battleground states – Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania – as voting was under way. Russia denies interfering in U.S. elections.
Conclusion
The bomb threats made against election offices in Maryland and California are a disturbing trend that highlights the need for increased security measures to ensure the integrity of the voting process. While the threats were deemed unfounded and no explosives were found, the fact that they were made at all is a cause for concern. As the country continues to move forward with the counting and certification of election results, it is essential that we remain vigilant and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
FAQs
Q: How many bomb threats were made against election offices in Maryland and California?
A: At least two bomb threats were made against election offices in Maryland and California.
Q: Were any explosives found during the searches of the threatened offices?
A: No explosives were found during the searches of the threatened offices.
Q: Who is investigating the bomb threats?
A: Local law enforcement agencies, including the Baltimore County Police Department, are investigating the bomb threats. The FBI is also involved in the investigation.
Q: Have similar bomb threats been made in the past?
A: Yes, similar bomb threats have been made in the past. Ahead of the elections, officials had braced for threats arising from misinformation and conspiracy theories about the vote.