As a white powder scare gripped the Manhattan district attorney’s office Friday, New York court officials stepped up security and prominent leaders slammed Donald Trump for his violent rhetoric and escalating attacks on DA Alvin Bragg.
Trump ratcheted up his war of words Friday, saying there would be “death and destruction” if he is arrested in Bragg’s probe of a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels on the eve of his election as president in 2016.
Trump has aggressively aimed at Bragg in multiple provocative social media posts this week, calling him a George “Soros-backed animal,” which New York civil rights leaders criticized as racist and anti-Semitic. In one Truth Social post this week, Trump shared an article with a photo of him standing with a baseball bat next to a picture of Bragg.
“This disgraceful attack is not a dog-whistle but a bullhorn of incendiary racist and anti-Semitic bile, spewed out for the sole purpose of intimidating and sabotaging a lawful, legitimate, fact-based investigation,” read a joint statement from Rev. Al Sharpton, U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Comptroller Brad Lander, and several others.
New York House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned Trump’s words and said their consequences could prove fatal.
“(Trump)’s rhetoric is reckless, reprehensible and irresponsible. It’s dangerous,” Jeffries said. “And if he keeps it up, he’s going to get someone killed.”
The lower Manhattan courthouses were thrown into a frenzy Friday when the white powder was discovered in an envelope marked “Alvin” with a return address for “Donald Trump,” law enforcement sources told the Daily News. The letter, sources said, included a note that said ALVIN: I AM GOING TO KILL YOU,” followed by 13 exclamation points.
The unknown substance — determined to be a bogus threat — was discovered in the DA’s mail room at 80 Centre St, where a grand jury has been hearing evidence against the former president since January in the hush money probe, a court official told The News.
A spokeswoman for DA Bragg said the substance was immediately contained and that the NYPD Emergency Service Unit and the NYC Department of Environmental Protection determined it was not dangerous. She declined comment on the envelope’s contents. The NYPD is investigating.
Office of Court Administration spokesman Lucian Chalfen said court officials were taking all necessary precautions and stepping up security.
“Due to the nature of increased interest in proceedings in New York City Courthouses, we have increased security, both inside and on the perimeter, and officers have been reminded to remain vigilant and maintain situational awareness,” Chalfen said.
In the wake of the incident, Bragg sent an office-wide email to his staff, which a source shared exclusively with The News, confirming the threat was bogus and outlining security measures in place to guard against any possible threats.
“In the extremely unlikely event that there is an emergency, the Office’s notification system is equipped to send automated messages — including voice, text messages, and email — to provide accurate, real-time information and instructions. We have no reason to think that will happen but want to assure you that we are well-prepared for any possibility,” Bragg wrote.
The DA’s email revealed that staffers have recently received alarming calls.
“I know some of you have received offensive or threatening phone calls or emails directly to your desk lines. I am very sorry that you have had to endure these distressing disruptions to your workdays. Please know, you do not need to listen to or speak with inappropriate callers,” Bragg said.
Bragg’s email also warned staff that filming set to take place about the courthouse this weekend might include “fictional explosions.” The downtown courthouses are a popular filming spot, with camera crews for “Law & Order” regularly taping episodes outside the historic buildings.
Friday’s discovery follows a series of threats this week as scores of reporters have been staking out the lower Manhattan offices in anticipation of an indictment against Trump. The former president whipped up a frenzy after wrongly predicting last weekend that he would be arrested on Tuesday.
Sharpton condemned the former president’s campaign against Manhattan’s first Black district attorney, noting Bragg has over 20 years of experience as a state and federal prosecutor.
“It is alarming but not surprising given the kind of rhetoric that we heard by some of the supporters of Trump and by Trump himself posing for a picture with a [bat] next to Alvin Bragg,” Sharpton told The News, reacting to the latest threat.
“I think this has the possibility of suggesting to someone who may be just a prankster or just someone that is very dangerous to try and put the life of the Manhattan DA in jeopardy. This is a very dangerous thing to do.”
“Mayor Adams also weighed in via a statement issued by a spokesman.
“No public official should ever be subject to threats for doing his or her job,” the mayor’s statement said. “I’m confident that every elected official in the city, including Manhattan DA Bragg, will continue to do their work undeterred, and anyone found to be engaging in illegal conduct will be brought to justice.”
On Tuesday, unfounded bomb threats were made against the DA’s office, nearby court buildings, and NYPD Headquarters. Someone called 911, reporting that a bomb had been placed at Manhattan Criminal Court. Law360 reported Friday that the DA and court administrators’ emails were targeted with hoax bomb threats by Russian servers for three days this week.
A federal judge on Thursday said the jury at Trump’s upcoming civil rape trial would be anonymous, referencing Trump’s Saturday Truth Social post wrongly predicting his arrest — which sent America into a frenzy — had been perceived by some as incitement to violence. Trump had called on his followers to take to the streets and protest, but media members vastly outnumbered any who did.
There is no indication the grand jury has finished hearing evidence from Bragg’s office nor when they will vote on whether to indict Trump.
It could be as soon as Monday, when the panel is slated to reconvene.
