The investigation into pipe bombs and the political fallout, explained

A suspect has been arrested and charged for sending more than a dozen pipe bombs to high-profile Democrats and critics of President Trump.

Cesar Sayoc Jr., 56, of Florida, has been charged with five federal crimes, after a nearly weeklong manhunt that captivated the country.

Sayoc’s arrest came after the FBI found three more explosive devices on Friday, bringing the total number of bombs uncovered so far to 13.

A fingerprint belonging to Sayoc, who has an extensive criminal record, was found on an envelope containing one of the bombs, and the investigation also found “a possible DNA connection,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said at a press conference Friday afternoon. Wray and other federal officials gave no indication that there might be other suspects or accomplices in the case.

None of the devices exploded, and no one has been injured so far. But Wray was clear that that federal authorities believe the threat is real. “These are not hoax devices,” he said.

Officials would not comment on Sayoc’s motives, though Attorney General Jeff Sessions he “appears to be a partisan.” Social media accounts apparently belonging to Sayoc are loaded with anti-Democratic Party memes and right-wing conspiracy theories.

The story is still unfolding, and the suspect’s motivations will likely be pieced together in the coming days. Here’s what you need to know to get caught up.

The FBI confirmed Friday that at least 13 explosive devices were sent to prominent Democrats, including current and former officials over the week. Though the suspect has been arrested, officials said it’s possible more packages may still be circulating.

The fist bomb was uncovered Monday, when an employee at the Westchester, New York, home of billionaire philanthropist George Soros, a major donor to Democratic causes and a frequent target of right-wing conspiracy theorists, discovered a suspicious package in Soros’s mailbox.

Two days later, the FBI confirmed that packages containing bombs were sent to the home of former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in Chappaqua, New York, and to the office of former President Barack Obama in Washington, DC.

Later that day, CNN’s offices in Manhattan were evacuated after a suspicious package was delivered to its studio. A dramatic scene played out as a fire alarm went off while the media outlet was broadcasting the news.

New York City Police Commissioner James O’Neill said at a press conference on Wednesday that the package sent to CNN contained what appeared to be “a live explosive device.” Investigators also discovered white powder inside the package found at CNN, but assistant FBI Director William Sweeney said Thursday at a press conference that authorities determined it “did not present a biological threat.”

Adding to the confusion, FBI officials later confirmed that the package sent to CNN had been addressed to former CIA Director John Brennan, who is a contributor to MSNBC and NBC. Brennan, whose security clearance was revoked by Trump in August, has been an outspoken critic of the president.

Another suspicious package was sent to Eric Holder, the US attorney general under Obama, but the parcel was misaddressed, and it was instead delivered to the office of Florida Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz — whose name was listed as the return address on all the packages.

The FBI also confirmed that two packages containing bombs had been mailed to California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, whom Trump routinely attacks at his rallies. One was intercepted at a congressional mail sorting facility outside of Washington, DC, and the other was uncovered at a mail sorting facility in South Los Angeles.

On Thursday morning, New York police received a call that a suspicious package had been sent to the production offices of actor Robert De Niro in Tribeca. De Niro had delivered an anti-Trump speech at the Tony Awards ceremony in June, which he punctuated with the statement, “Fuck Trump.”

John Miller, the NYPD’s deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism, said Thursday at a press conference that a retired detective was watching the news and saw an image of one of the devices sent to other officials, and realized that it resembled a package that had been received at De Niro’s office on Tuesday. The retired detective contacted the NYPD, which found that the package contained a pipe bomb.

Also on Thursday, investigators intercepted two packages at a Delaware mail facility that were intended for former Vice President Joe Biden. At least one of the packages addressed to Biden was in the process of being rerouted to Schultz’s office in Florida, according to the New York Times. The packages discovered Thursday “appeared similar” to those found earlier in the week, the FBI said.

And on Friday, law enforcement found three more bombs. One was addressed to Sen. Booker, and the FBI said it was recovered in a mail facility in Florida.

The second suspicious package was reportedly on its way to CNN’s offices in New York, but James Clapper, former director of national intelligence and an outspoken Trump critic, was the intended recipient. The parcel was discovered at a postal facility in Manhattan, according to the New York Times.

Finally, a suspicious package was discovered at a Sacramento, California mail facility, which was reportedly addressed to California Democratic Senator Kamala Harris.

Officials would not comment on Sayoc’s motives, though Sessions noted that he “appeared to be a partisan” at a press conference on Friday. Still, a portrait is beginning to emerge of Sayoc through his social media history and past encounters with law enforcement.

Investigators focused their investigation on Florida, less than 24 hours before Cesar Altieri Sayoc Jr. was arrested there.

At around 11 a.m., law enforcement apprehended Sayoc at an auto repair shop in Plantation, Florida. Authorities also seized a van that appeared to be plastered in in political memes and pro-Trump decals. He’s now been charged with five federal crimes. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan will pursue the case, and Sayoc faces up to 48 years in prison, if convicted.

Sayoc’s fingerprint was found on an envelope containing one of the bombs, and the investigation also found “a possible DNA connection,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said at a press conference Friday afternoon. Wray and other federal officials gave no indication that there might be other suspects or accomplices in the case.

A portrait of Sayoc is starting to emerge through his social media history and past encounters with law enforcement.

Sayoc has an extensive criminal history, including an arrest for a past bomb threat in Miam in 2002. According to a police report obtained by the Washington Post, Sayoc threatened Florida Power and Light in August 2002, warning “it would be worse than September 11th.” Sayoc plead guilty to the charge, and served a year of probation.

Then there’s the social media accounts that appear to belong to Sayoc. They’re a patchwork of pro-Trump memes and conspiracy theories, but they also include attacks on Democrats and Republicans who opposed Trump. (His account has since been suspended.)

Officials would not comment on Sayoc’s motives, or whether his attempted attack was politically motivated. Sessions noted that he “appeared to be a partisan” at the press conference on Friday, but did not elaborate.

FBI Director Wray described the each of the explosive devices as containing a PVC pipe, a small clock, a battery, some wiring, and “energetic material” — essentially the explosive material that’s supposed to set the bomb off.

None of the bombs exploded, but Wray said the FBI is still analyzing the devices to understand why — but he emphasized that it contained dangerous materials. “Though we’re still analyzing the devices in our laboratory, these are not hoax devices,” Wray said Friday.

Federal officials did not go into more detail about the bombs at a press conference Friday, but they had previously released updated to the public about what the suspicious packages looked like.

The packages consisted of yellow manila envelopes lined with bubble wrap and plastered with half a dozen “Forever” postage stamps.

The address and return labels were printed, and the Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s office was listed as the return address on all of the packages, though her name was misspelled “DEBBIE WASSERMAN SHULTZ.”

The bomb delivered to CNN was adorned with a parody of the ISIS flag, which included the phrase “Get Er Done,” according to NBC News. It’s a right-wing meme that has circulated on the internet for several years.

President Trump has spent the week sending contradictory messages, calling for unity and condemning acts of political violence one moment, and blaming the news media and dismissing the seriousness of the attempted attack.

On his way to a rally in Charlotte, reporters asked Trump if he believed his rhetoric — and his attacks on political opponents — may have inspired the bomber. Not at all, no,” Trump said. “There is no blame. There is no anything.”

Trump tried to stick to his talking points in his public remarks after Sayoc’s arrest, praising law enforcement for their efforts and calling for unity. “We must never allow political violence to take root in America,” the president said during remarks at the Young Black Leadership Summit, “We cannot let it happen. We are committed to do everything to stop it. To stop it now. Stop it now.”

That was quite a different tone from the one Trump struck earlier, where turned a national security issue into a partisan one, and appeared to dismiss the “‘Bomb’ stuff” as an attempt to distract from his midterm messaging.

Trump’s tweet also seemed to hint at a conspiracy theory embraced by his most ardent right-wing supporters. Some pundits have peddled a “false flag” conspiracy theory — that these attempted attacks were somehow orchestrated by Democrats to sway the public against Trump.

Trump has also spent a lot of the week bashing the press — and his frequent target, CNN. Trump unleashed a tirade Friday morning against CNN and Thursday morning on Twitter, accusing the media of fomenting anger and spreading “purposefully false” stories. “Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!” he tweeted. which Trump claimed had “responsibility to set a civil tone and to stop the endless hostility and constant negative and oftentimes false attacks and stories.”

Federal officials refused to say whether they thought heated political rhetoric or incendiary statements played a role in Sayoc’s plot. But many of the intended recipients of these bombs have been vocal opponents of the president — and they’re also featured prominently in Trump’s relentless attacks on Democrats during his campaign rallies and on Twitter.

Cheers of “lock her up” or “Crooked Hillary” can still be heard at most of Trump’s rallies (and even happened on Wednesday night). Trump frequently bashes Rep. Waters, saying she has a “low IQ.” And he has peddled conspiracy theories about Soros financing anti-Brett Kavanaugh protesters.

As of Friday afternoon, Trump has returned to the mostly staid talking points expected of a president. But he’s own his way to a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina — and about to return to campaign mode, with the midterm elections less than two weeks away.