Bomb threat at Lee Zeldin's home probed by Suffolk police, officials say

Suffolk County police are investigating a bomb threat in Shirley tied to an address belonging to former Rep. Lee Zeldin, who is President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.

Police said they were called to the home on St. George Drive at 8:52 a.m. for a report of a bomb threat. Records list that address as Zeldin's home in Shirley.

Suffolk County Emergency Services officers are checking the property, police said.

In a statement Wednesday, Zeldin said police were investigating a pipe bomb found at his home.

"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 the 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 County police would not say if a pipe bomb or any messages were found.

The threat at Zeldin's house is the same home outside of which an alleged gang member shot at three people, hitting two in the chest, in December 2022 while Zeldin's family was inside. No one in the house was injured.

Zeldin was nominated by Trump earlier this month to serve as the EPA administrator.

The threat is apparently part of what Trump's transition spokeswoman called a spate of "violent, un-American threats" against cabinet nominees and administration appointees made Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

"These attacks ranged from bomb threats to 'swatting,' " Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

The FBI said the agency was working with local police to investigate "multiple bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees."

Swatting entails generating an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses.

"We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement," the FBI said in a statement.

Also targeted was New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, nominated for U.N. ambassador, who received a threat at her home in Saratoga County as she was driving back from Washington D.C. for Thanksgiving with her husband and 3-year-old son, according to her office. 

Police in Florida were also investigating a threat targeting former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who withdrew as nominee for attorney general. The threat was made in a mailbox at a Niceville, Florida, home that did not belong to Gaetz, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office. 

— With AP

Check back for updates on this developing story.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.