Robert de Nirois urging Americans to get out and vote.
In his first statement sincea pipe bomb was sent to his office in Manhattan— one of at least 12 that were sent in suspicious packages to prominent Democrats and critics of PresidentDonald Trumpthis week — the Oscar-winning actor refocused his followers on the upcoming midterm elections on Nov. 6.
“There’s something more powerful than bombs, and that’s your vote. People MUST vote!” he said in a statement to PEOPLE.
He also addressed the scare — saying, “I thank God no one’s been hurt, and I thank the brave and resourceful security and law enforcement people for protecting us.”
The address where the package was found, 375 Greenwich St., houses De Niro’s production company Tribeca Enterprises and restaurant Tribeca Grill,CNNreported. A report about the suspicious package was called in at 5:00 a.m. local time, and authorities removed the package via the NYPD bomb truck at 6:30 a.m.
An NYPD rep told PEOPLE that the package wassimilar to the other suspicious packages,its return address listed as Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and six American flag stamps placed on the manilla envelope.
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Similar devices have been intercepted addressed to former PresidentBarack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, former Secretary of StateHillary Clinton, the news network CNN, Democratic donorGeorge Soros, Rep. Maxine Waters, former CIA Director John Brennan, and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker.
“If you have info that could assist the #FBI’s investigation of suspicious packages, call 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324) or use tips.fbi.gov,” the FBI tweeted on Thursday, adding a photo of one of the packages. “If you observe suspicious activity that requires an immediate response, call 911 or contact local law enforcement immediately.”
As news of the bombs unfolded, President Trump stood strong, condemning their terror.
“I just want to tell you that in these times we have to unify,” he said during an opioids event at the White House. “We have to come together and send one very clear, strong, unmistakable message that acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United States of America.”
“This egregious conduct is abhorrent to everything we hold dear and sacred as Americans,” Trump continued. “We are extremely angry [and] upset… We will get to the bottom of it.”
But on Thursday, Trump blamed the media for the surge of potentially dangerous mailings — saying the press was at fault for creating divisions in American society.
Ben Gabbe/Getty; Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty
De Niro has been a vocal critic of Trump’s.
“A college education is important, but education without humanity is ignorance,” De Nirosaid in Marchat a Fulfillment Fund event. “Look at our president. He made it through [the] University of Pennsylvania, so he was exposed to a quality education, but he’s still an idiot.”
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Days later, De Niro took his frustrations with Trump to the stage at the 2018 Tony Awards.
“F— Trump” he said, before presenting an award. “It’s no longer just down with Trump, it’s f— Trump.” The statement was met with a standing ovation.
source: people.com
