TRENTON – Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr., Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick issued the following joint statement today condemning the attempted bomb attacks targeting former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, the offices of CNN and others:
“We stand united in condemnation of the attempted acts of political violence that targeted prominent Americans that could have easily caused the loss of life or serious injury to them or others. We are grateful that the intended tragedy was prevented. We praise the swift and effective response of the Secret Service, the FBI, the Postal Service and local law enforcement. Their actions helped to protect the targets and other potential victims.
“This was not just an attack on these individuals. It was an assault on our democracy and on the way we live as Americans in a diverse country that honors the principles of justice, safety and mutual respect. We can possess different opinions on how to best serve the country’s needs, but differing ideas are no justification for violence and no excuse for expressions of hate, prejudice or animosity.
“We won’t be intimidated by those who threaten our safety and we won’t allow their agenda of violence to undermine the values that unite us as Americans.”