The White House pushed back at accusations Thursday that President Trump’s heated campaign rhetoric incited someone to mail pipe bombs to prominent Democrats.
“There’s a big difference between comments made and actions taken,” said White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “The president is certainly not responsible for sending suspicious packages to someone, no more than Bernie Sanders was responsible for a supporter of his shooting up a Republican baseball field practice last year.”
She was referring to a supporter of Mr. Sanders’ presidential campaign who shot Republicans, including Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana, at a baseball practice in June 2017. The gunman was shot and killed by law enforcement officers.
A person or persons has mailed as many as seven suspected pipe bombs to top Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden and former Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.
Mr. Trump told supporters at a campaign rally Wednesday night that Americans must settle their disagreements peacefully “at the ballot box” and not resort to violence.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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