Mulvaney says threats toward Trump picks is something he’s never seen: ‘Sad result of the heightened rhetoric’
Former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said he's never seen the type of threats that President-elect Trump's nominees are facing, noting that it's a "sad result of the heightened rhetoric."
Mulvaney joined NewsNation’s Mike Viqueria on Wednesday for "The Hill" to discuss the threats against nominated officials and his time in Trump’s first administration.
“It’s a sad result of the heightened rhetoric,” Mulvaney said about the threats, later adding “I didn’t see this previously.”
Trump nominated Mulvaney in December 2016 to lead the Office of Management and Budget. He said that he didn't have any protection "whatsoever" until after the Senate confirmed him, and even then, "it was very, very low" until he became Trump's acting chief of staff.
“So, most of these folks have absolutely no security,” he said.
Several of Trump’s Cabinet picks were targeted with threats over the last week, including four with reported bomb threats at their homes ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The FBI said it was aware of the numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents. It said it was working with law enforcement partners and takes all threats seriously.
The nominees impacted by the threats so far are Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who was selected to be United Nations ambassador; former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who was chosen as Trump’s attorney general but withdrew from consideration; former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), chosen to lead the Environmental Protection Agency; Brooke Rollins, Trump’s second attorney general choice; Howard Lutnick, chosen to lead the Commerce department; Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.), who was tapped to be Labor secretary and former NFL star Scott Turner, Trump’s Department of Housing and Urban Development.
During his time in office, Mulvaney said he didn’t experience such severe threats.
“We saw the crazy nut jobs on the internet threatening your family and so forth, and you have to turn those over to the FBI, but we never saw anything to the likes of pipe bombs at this level,” he said.
NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.